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1'  R  I  N  T  F.  I  >  A  N  I ) 
li  N  G  RAVE  D  B  Y 
S  U  N  S  F.  T  PRESS 
SAN  FRANCISCO 


THE 


Stories  of  El  Dorado 


BY 


FRONA   EUNICE  WAfff' 


Happiness  is  found  only  in  El  Dorado,  which  no 
one  yet   has  been  able  to  reach. 

— Spanish     Proverb 


Copyrighted  1904,  by   Frona   Eunice  Wait 
San  Francisco,  California 


This  book  is  dedicated  to  dear  little    Jack 

Morgan  Gillespie,  with  the  most  affectionate 

and  sincere   regards  of  his  devoted  friend, 

FRONA  EUNICE  WAIT 


Bancroft  Library 

Preface 

"It  has  only  recently  been  recognized  as  a 

fact,"  says  Prof.  A.  F.  Bandelier,  "that  on  the 

whole  American  continent,  the  mode  of  life  of  the 

Q  primitive  inhabitants   was   formed  on  one   socio- 

^  logical  principle,  and  consequently  the  culture  of 

2   these  peoples  has  varied,  locally,  only  in  degree, 

not  in  kind.    The  religious  principles  were  funda- 

O    mentally  the  same  among  the  Sioux  and  the  Bra- 

D     zilians,  and  physical  causes  more  than  anything 

<  else  have  been  at  the  bottom  of  the  local  differ- 
ences." Such  has  been  my  own  experience  in 

Q  studying  the  stories  of  El  Dorado  which  form  the 
subject  of  this  book,  and  in  presenting  a  man— a 
culture  hero— who  came  by  sea  from  the  East,  I  am 
justified  by  a  more  complete  set  of  records  than  is 
known  to  the  superficial  student.  As  this  man's 

-  principles  of  life  were  the  same,  we  are  forced  to 
the  conclusion  that  all  the  heroes  were  one  concep- 
tion, handed  down  by  oral  tradition,  but  widely 
separated  as  to  locality,  by  the  lapse  of  time,  by 
migrations  and  commercial  relations  of  the  dif- 
ferent tribes. 

As  to  where  these  myths  originated,  or  how 
old  they  are,  I  have  nothing  to  suggest,  since  in 
presenting  these  simple  variants,  it  is  no  concern  of 
mine.  It  is  sufficient  for  my  purpose  to  know  that 
they  exist.  To  me  they  lend  a  dignity  to  our  coun- 
try by  investing  it  with  a  misty  past,  replete  with 
a  mythology  as  rich  and  sublime  as  that  of  any  of 
the  races  of  antiquity.  Not  only  will  the  study  of 


6  THE    STORIES   OF   EL   DORADO 

them  inspire  patriotism  and  make  us  better 
acquainted  with  the  inner  lives  of  the  red  men,  but 
it  will  tend  to  create  an  interest  in  our  sister 
republics  which  cannot  fail  to  be  of  lasting  practical 
benefit.  We  know  much  more  of  Europeans  than 
we  do  of  the  peoples  of  this  continent. 

If  mythology  is  to  be  taught  in  the  schools  at 
all,  surely  our  own  should  have  consideration,  and 
in  familiarizing  ourselves  with  the  traditions  of 
El  Dorado,  we  shall  have  one  more  incentive  for 
higher  living.  We  shall  learn  that  the  great  souls 
of  the  races  that  have  preceded  us,  in  the  Americas, 
have  faced  the  same  problems  of  life,  which  are 
the  heritage  of  our  common  humanity ;  that  within 
its  dark  shadows  they  too  have  struggled,  hoped, 
and  prayed. 

No  words  incorporated  into  the  English  lan- 
guage have  been  fraught  with  such  stupendous  con- 
sequences as  El  Dorado.  When  the  padres 
attempted  to  tell  the  story  of  the  Christ,  the  natives 
exclaimed  "El  Dorado, "  or  what  the  imperfect 
translations  have  made  El  Dorado— the  golden. 
As  the  ignorant  sailors  and  adventurers  had  been 
kept  from  mutiny  by  Columbus'  promise  of  gold, 
it  is  no  wonder  that  they  seized  upon  the  literal 
meaning  instead  of  the  spiritual  one. 

The  time,  being  that  of  Don  Quixote  and  of 
the  Inquisition,  accounts  for  the  childish  credulity 
on  one  side  and  the  unparalleled  ferocity  on  the 
other.  The  search  for  El  Dorado,  whether  it  was 
believed  to  be  a  fabulous  country  of  gold,  or  an 


PREFACE  7 

inaccessible  mountain,  or  a  lake,  or  a  city,  or  a 
priest  who  anointed  himself  with  a  fragrant  oil 
and  sprinkled  his  body  with  fine  gold  dust,  must 
always  remain  one  of  the  blackest  pages  in  the 
history  of  the  white  race.  The  great  heart  of 
humanity  will  ever  ache  with  sympathy  for  the  mel- 
ancholy and  pitiful  end  of  the  natives,  who  at  the 
time  of  the  conquest  of  Mexico  were  confidently 
expecting  the  return  of  the  mild  and  gentle  Quet- 
zalcoatl,  the  Mexican  variant  of  this  universal 
myth.  None  of  the  cruelties  attributed  to  the 
Indian  had  its  origin  in  resistance  to  the  acceptance 
of  a  new  faith.  On  the  contrary  he  fought  solely 
in  defense  of  his  home,  and  from  Patagonia  to 
Alaska  was  always  willing  to  listen  to  the  Christian 
ideas  of  God  and  the  hereafter. 

I  have  devoted  the  first  seven  variants  to  the 
original  myth,  while  the  others  pertain  to  the  tran- 
sitions to,  and  misconceptions  of,  the  name  El 
Dorado.  A  lust  for  gold  acquired  by  conquest  was 
the  underlying  motive  of  the  discoveries  and  explo- 
rations made  in  the  western  hemisphere,  and  is  the 
beginning  of  all  American  history.  We  have  uncon- 
sciously added  some  variants  to  it  in  California, 
where  the  mythical  kingdom  of  Quivera  became  the 
land  of  gold  of  the  '49  eppch.  El  Dorado  has  long 
been  a  household  word  for  anything  rich  and 
golden. 

I  begin  by  bringing  the  Golden  Hearted  from 
an  island  in  the  east,  the  Tlapalla,  from  whence  he 
came,  and  to  which  he  returned  in  the  legend.  In 


8  THE    STORIES   OF   EL   DORADO 

all  variants  he  gave  a  distinct  promise  of  return. 
This  accounts  for  the  awe  inspired  by  Europeans 
in  the  minds  of  the  natives,  causing  them  every- 
where to  fall  easy  victims  to  the  unscrupulous 
adventurers  swarming  into  their  country.  That 
there  should  have  been  confusion  seems  unavoid- 
able under  the  circumstances,  but  certainly  Fate 
never  played  a  more  cruel  prank  than  to  have  one 
race  of  men  speak  and  act  constantly  from  the 
standpoint  of  tradition  and  religious  belief,  while 
the  other  thought  solely  of  material  gain. 

Only  in  Hiawatha  and  the  Pueblo  Montezuma 
have  I  taken  liberty  with  the  original.  The  former 
is  based  on  the  recent  researches  into  Algonquin 
and  Chippewa  myths  of  Michabo,  the  great  White 
Hare.  In  the  Pueblo  Montezuma  I  have  followed 
Prof.  Bandelier  as  to  the  latest  conceptions  of  the 
Wrathy  Chieftain.  My  authority  for  making  the 
Amazon  Queens  degenerate  priestesses  of  the  sun, 
is  J.  A.  Von  Heuvel,  the  defender  of  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh's  connection  with  the  South  American 
version  of  the  El  Dorado  legend.  To  Hubert  Howe 
Bancroft's  abridgement  of  Father  Sahagan's 
translation  of  the  Popol  Vuh  am  I  much  indebted. 

In  all  accessories  I  have  utilized  the  products 
or  characteristics  of  localities  visited  by  the  myth- 
ical hero,  but  have  avoided  investing  him  with  a 
religious  character  or  surrounding  him  with 
supernatural  phenomena.  It  will  be  wise  to  make  a 
distinction  between  the  purely  mythical,  and  that 
which  led  to  history. 


TABLE    OF   CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  HAPPY   ISLAND 11 

ZAMNA,  THE  EYE  OF  THE  SUN 18 

VOTAN,  THE  PEOPLE'S  HEART 31 

LOUD   OF   THE   SACRED   TUNKEL 39 

THE   STARS'   BALL 45 

THE    NATIONAL    BOOK 52 

MANCO-CAPAC,  THE  POWERFUL  ONE 61 

BOCIITCA    AND    THE    ZlPA 71 

THE  SONG  OF  HIAWATHA 78 

MICH  ABO,  THE  GREAT  WHITE  HARE 80 

THE   BIRTH  OF   CORN 90 

THE   WRATHY   CHIEFTAIN 99 

QUETZALCOATL,   THE   PLUMED   SERPENT 109 

CHOLULA,  THE  SACRED  CITY 117 

TULLA,  THE  HIDING  NOOK  OF  THE  SNAKE 125 

DEPARTURE  OF  THE   GOLDEN   HEARTED 132 

EL  DORADO,  THE  GOLDEN 140 

BIMINI,  THE   FOUNTAIN  OF   YOUTH 151 

MONTEZUMA   AND  THE   1JABA 161 

THE  CHILD  OF  THE  SUN 176 

THE   GILDED   MAN 189 

THE  WHITE  SEA  OF  THE  MANOAS 197 

THE   MOUNTAIN   OF   GOLD 207 

THE   AMAZON    QUEENS 219 

THE  SEVEN    CITIES    OF    CIBOLA 228 

THE  KINGDOM  OF  QUIVERA 240 

THE  LAND  OF  GOLD 250 

THE  NEW   EL  DORADO 262 

APPENDIX    .  271 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

LEAVING  THE  HAPPY  ISLAND  (Drawing  by  Xavier  Martinez)  17 
"EACH  STITCH  MUST  BE  COUNTED"  (Painting,  The  Weaver, 

by  Amadee  Joullin) 21 

THE  BALL  PLAYER  (Drawing,  Xavier  Martinez) 30 

"WHO  ART  THOU?"  (Painting,  Alexander  Para,  Mexico  City)  35 
"AN  OLD-FASHIONED  ALMANAC"  (Photograph,  Calendar 

Stone,  Mexico  City) 48 

"BEHOLD  THE  FIRST  WORD"  (Painting,  The  Hieroglyph 

Maker,  A.  Joullin) 55 

THE  TAPIR  (Tail-piece) 60 

A  SUSPENSION  BRIDGE  (Drawing  by  Xavier  Martinez)....  64 
"THE  PEOPLE  SHOUTED  'HAILLE'!"  (Painting,  The  Sun 

Worshippers,  E.  Narjot) 69 

"THE  FLOWER-LADEN  BALSA"  (Tail-piece) 77 

"THE  HOUSE  OF  WUNZII"  (Tail-piece) 89 

THE  WRESTLING  MATCH  (Tail-piece) 93 

"THE  WRATHY  CHIEFTAIN"  (Painting  by  J.  W.  Clawson)  ..  104 

THE  POTTERY  MAKER  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez) 107 

"THE  HUMMING-BIRD  ALIGHTED"  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez)  ..  Ill 

"THE  SNAKESKIN  CANOE"  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez) 124 

"HERE  Is  MEDICINE  FOR  You"  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez)..  129 

"A  SONG  OF  FAREWELL"  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez) 137 

THE  TORCH  BEARERS  (Tail-piece)  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez)  139 

"ON,  AND  ON  THE  CARAVELS  SAILED"  (Official  photograph)  147 

"LAND!  LAND  AHEAD!"  (Official  photograph) 148 

"THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  YOUTH"  (Drawing,  X.  Martinez)....  159 
"THEIR  NAKED  BODIES  HACKED  TO  PIECES"  (Drawing,  X. 

Martinez) 185 

DRYING  INDIA  RUBBER 201 

"THE  OLD  WITCH,  MONELLA 214 

"A  FLOWER  OFFERING"  (Sketch  by  X.  Martinez) 224 

"ONE  OF  THE  SEVEN  CITIES"  (Sketch  by  X.  Martinez) 235 

"FRAY  MARCOS" 239 

"AN  OLD  COMMUNITY  HOUSE" 249 

"DISCOVERY  OF  SAN  FRANCISCO  BAY"  (Painting,  Arthur 

Matthews,  by  courtesy  of  S.  F.  Art  Association) 253 

"A  PRAIRIE  SCHOONER" 261 


The  Happy  Island 

LONG  time  ago  there  was  a 
beautiful  island  close  by  the 
place  in  the  east  where  the  sun 
rises.  The  sea  was  all  around 
it,  and  at  noonday  the  sun  in 
the  sky  seemed  to  slant  just 
above  it.  Being  near  the  equa- 
tor and  in  a  tropic  clime  the 
winds  were  soft  and  warm  and 
full  of  the  odor  of  sweet  flowers. 
Sometimes  the  sea  was  smooth 
and  clear  as  glass  and  then  the 
goldfish  and  sea  mosses  floated 
near  the  surface  and  glittered  in  the  sunlight. 

At  night  the  moon  came  out  big  and  round  like 
a  silver  ball  and  the  stars  shone  very  clear  because 
there  was  no  smoke  nor  fog  in  the  air.  In  the  moon- 
light the  queer  little  flying  fish  would  jump  up  out 
of  the  water  and  dart  forth  and  back  in  the  fun- 
niest way  as  if  they  were  playing  some  kind  of 
game.  Their  tiny  wet  wings  glistened  like  silver 
gauze,  and,  when  everything  else  was  still,  made  a 
peculiar  whirring  sound  by  all  flapping  at  once. 

The  beach  was  strewn  with  quantities  of  conch 
and  abalone  shells,  also  other  species  of  all  shapes 
and  sizes  and  they  were  as  dainty  in  color  as  it  is 
possible  to  imagine.  The  children  of  the  Happy 
Island  often  held  the  larger  ones  to  their  ears  to 
listen  to  the  murmurs  and  complaints  of  the 
insects  and  other  forms  of  life  living  inside  them. 
This  was  only  a  fancy,  but  many  sea  shells  do  have 
a  soft  musical  cadence  if  we  care  to  hear  it.  Some 


13  THE    STORIES   OE   EL  DOKADO 

poets  believe  that  they  were  the  first  musical 
instruments,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  sea 
send  messages  ashore  in  this  manner. 

The  ferns  grew  almost  as  tall  as  the  trees  and 
there  were  hundreds  of  birds  skimming  through 
the  air,  or  flitting  through  the  branches  singing 
and  chattering  and  having  a  very  happy  time.  They 
were  not  afraid  because  no  one  threw  stones  at 
them  or  tried  to  frighten  them.  Everybody  was 
glad  to  see  them  put  up  their  little  bills  and  ruffle 
up  their  throats  in  singing,  or  else  spread  out  their 
wings  and  splash  water  all  over  their  backs  while 
they  stood  on  a  pebble  or  twig  taking  a  morning 
bath.  The  people  said  that  when  the  birds  were 
twittering  and  chirping  they  were  talking  to  each 
other.  When  they  were  singing  they  were  telling 
God  how  thankful  they  were  for  the  warm  sunshine 
and  plenty  to  eat. 

There  was  a  wonderful  city  in  the  center  of  the 
island  named  the  City  of  the  Golden  Gates 
because  it  was  surrounded  by  a  high  wall  of  very 
thick  stones,  with  a  great  number  of  gates  of  gold 
through  which  the  animals  and  people  passed  in 
and  out.  Here  lived  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  as 
the  king  was  called,  and  his  son  was  a  beautiful 
youth  known  as  the  Golden  Hearted  because  he 
was  so  gentle  and  kind.  He  was  a  swift  runner  and 
could  shoot  well  with  a  bow  and  arrow  and  was 
strong  enough  to  wrestle  with  a  big  man,  but  he 
preferred  to  make  gold  ornaments  and  vessels  for 
his  father  and  was  often  permitted  to  go  into  the 
king's  treasure  house  to  watch  the  workmen  polish 


THE  HAPPY  ISLAND  13 

the  precious  gems  which  they  found  in  great 
abundance  by  digging  into  the  mountains  near  the 
city. 

The  people  knew  all  about  white  and  black 
pearls  and  how  to  get  them  from  the  bed  of  the 
ocean.  In  full  sight  of  the  island  was  a  large  reef 
of  pink  and  white  coral  and  the  young  prince  went 
there  many  times  to  see  the  curious  little  insects 
building  their  graceful,  airy  houses  over  some  rock 
hidden  by  the  water.  He  sometimes  imagined  that 
he  heard  the  mermaids  calling  to  him.  What  he 
really  did  hear  was  the  wind  dashing  the  waves 
in  and  out  of  the  coral  chambers  as  if  it  were  deter- 
mined to  wash  them  away.  The  reef  was  an  excel- 
lent place  to  fish,  and  the  Golden  Hearted  and 
his  companions  had  many  a  fine  day's  sport  there 
while  the  divers  were  searching  for  the  pearl  oys- 
ters. He  fished  with  a  drag-net  made  by  himself, 
and  he  could  let  it  out  and  haul  it  in  again  like  a 
regular  sailor.  He  never  killed  any  of  the  fish,  and 
the  divers  would  not  give  him  the  pearls  they  found 
because  they  were  compelled  to  kill  the  oysters  to 
get  them,  and  this  they  said  made  the  pearls 
unlucky  and  was  the  reason  why  they  are  round  and 
shining  like  tear  drops.  The  miners  brought  him 
all  the  emeralds  they  could  find,  because  this  was 
the  happiness-bringing  stone.  Its  color  is  like 
the  soft  grass  in  the  springtime,  and  they  wanted 
him  to  be  always  young  and  have  everything  his 
heart  desired. 

The  royal  gardens  were  his  special  care  and 
in  them  he  was  allowed  to  cultivate  any  kind  of 


14  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

tree  or  plant  or  grain.  Then  from  them  he  must 
learn  the  names  and  habits  of  the  trees  producing 
the  best  wood  for  building  houses,  what  plants 
were  good  to  heal  the  sick,  and  all  about  the  grains 
useful  for  food  either  for  man  or  animals.  Every 
flower  that  had  a  perfume  grew  in  a  separate  part 
of  the  garden,  and  those  shedding  their  fragrance 
at  night  only  were  in  a  bed  by  themselves.  He  was 
required  to  know  the  difference  between  single  and 
double  species  and  why  there  is  such  a  difference 
in  the  same  family  of  plants. 

Honey  bees,  big-winged  butterflies,  crickets 
and  beetles  hid  in  the  flowers  or  flew  above  them, 
and  these  all  taught  a  lesson  to  the  young  prince 
who  had  no  other  books.  The  honey  bee  was  an 
industrious  little  fellow  continually  building  a 
piece  of  comb  or  else  filling  it  with  honey.  The 
butterfly,  on  the  other  hand,  did  not  work  at  all  but 
changed  from  an  ugly  grub  into  a  caterpillar  and 
finally  into  a  gorgeous  butterfly  with  spotted  wings 
and  bright  eyes.  The  king  told  his  son  that  the 
butterfly  was  like  a  soul — the  immortal  part  of 
ourselves— and  he  wished  him  to  be  as  busy  as  the 
bee,  and  to  do  no  more  harm  to  other  creatures 
than  does  the  pretty  butterfly. 

The  cricket  was  a  cheerful,  merry  chap,  usu- 
ally singing  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  and  the  beetle- 
tried  to  push  all  of  the  dirt  out  of  the  garden.  If 
he  found  anything  he  did  not  like  he  would  roll 
and  tumble  with  it,  even  if  it  were  much  bigger  than 
himself.  This  amused  the  Golden  Hearted  very 
much,  and  when  he  grew  tired  of  his  own 


THE  HAPPY  ISLAND  15 

occupations  he  would  run  out  into  the  garden  and 
watch  the  beetles. 

One  day  he  went  into  the  splendid  throne- 
room  where  his  father  was  giving  audience  to  some 
wise  old  men  who  were  foretelling  what  was 
going  to  happen  to  the  king  and  the  people  of  the 
Happy  Island.  They  urged  the  king  to  send  some 
member  of  his  household  to  the  strange  land  over 
the  sea,  toward  the  setting  sun,  where  the  people 
were  in  barbarism. 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  much  interested  and 
thought  here  was  an  opportunity  to  do  some  good 
for  the  weak  and  helpless.  Springing  forward  he 
said: 

'  *  Dear  father,  let  me  go.  I  am  able  to  sail  the 
seas  and  am  willing  to  devote  my  life  to  teaching 
these  poor  people  how  to  live  like  brothers. " 

The  king  felt  proud  of  the  young  prince,  but 
he  loved  him  so  dearly  that  it  was  hard  to  let  him 
go,  and  also  hard  to  refuse  such  a  noble,  manly 
request. 

"Do  you  know,  my  son,  this  will  entail  a  great 
deal  of  hardship  and  self-denial?"  he  asked. 

"Yes,  father,  but  God  intends  us  to  earn  all 
the  good  things  in  life ;  He  will  not  give  them  to  us 
for  nothing.  That  is  His  good  law,  which  makes 
us  healthy,  happy  and  wise — three  of  the  most 
precious  possessions  in  the  world." 

"Go,  my  Golden  Heart,  and  may  God  bless 
and  keep  you  always,"  said  the  king.  "Take  a 
green-throated  humming-bird  for  your  guide,  and 
when  you  find  the  land,  journey  on  until  you  come 


16  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

to  a  place  where  a  cactus  grows  at  the  base  of  a 
rock  and  there  is  a  golden  eagle  soaring  in  the  air 
above  it.  Halt  there  and  found  a  city,  and  name 
it  in  honor  of  the  sun." 

Then  all  the  wise  men  begged  to  go  with  him, 
and  for  days  after  there  were  great  prepara- 
tions made  for  the  departure  of  the  king 's  son.  At 
daybreak  one  morning  he  set  sail  in  a  snake-skin 
boat,  and  all  the  inhabitants  came  with  the  king  to 
throw  flowers  and  emeralds  into  the  sea  because 
they  wished  to  show  respect  to  the  Golden  Hearted. 
It  was  their  method  of  blessing  him  and  wishing 
him  good  luck.  The  whole  shore  line,  as  far  as  he 
could  see,  was  lighted  up  by  bonfires  where  the 
people  burned  resin  and  perfume  to  commemorate 
his  going. 

At  the  water's  edge  stood  the  old  sea  king  with 
his  long  white  hair  and  beard  blowing  in  the  wind. 
By  his  side  was  a  cream-white  horse  with  three 
plumes  in  the  top  of  its  bridle  reins  and  a  square, 
red  blanket  edged  with  deep  fringe  on  its  back. 
Crowns  and  moons  and  stars  of  gold  and  silver 
were  scattered  over  the  blanket  to  show  that  the 
horse  belonged  to  the  royal  prince.  Back  of  the 
king  was  a  long  line  of  young  warrior  priests 
mounted  on  white  horses,  with  red  blankets,  and 
carrying  reversed  spears  in  their  hands.  They 
bowed  their  heads  when  the  poor  old  father  leaned 
over  on  the  horse's  neck  and  cried  as  if  his  heart 
would  break  as  the  boat  with  his  only  son  in  it 
pushed  off  from  the  shore.  Snatching  a  torch  from 
the  hand  of  an  attendant,  the  Golden  Hearted 


THE  HAPPY  ISLAND 


17 


waved  it  on  high.  Fire  with  them  was  a  symbol  of 
wisdom,  and  when  the  king  saw  it,  he  answered 
the  signal  by  waving  a  torch,  and  the  warrior 
priests  flashed  their  spears  in  the  bright  sunlight, 
and  the  people  sent  up  a  deafening  shout. 

This  meant  that  they  were  willing  to  sacrifice 
their  future  king  for  the  good  of  a  strange  race  of 
men  who  needed  a  teacher  to  show  them  how  to 
cultivate  the  land  and  how  to  build  cities  and  live 
civilized.  The  people  of  the  Happy  Island  would 
not  send  a  common  man  for  a  teacher.  No,  indeed ; 
they  gave  the  best  they  had — their  dearly  loved 
prince  with  the  golden  heart— to  help  their  less 
fortunate  neighbors.  And  he  gave  up  all  luxury 
and  comfort  because  he  would  rather  be  useful, 
than  live  in  ease  as  a  king.  The  name  of  the  island 
was  Atlantis,  and  the  new  country  was  our  own— 
America. 


LEAVING    THE    HAPPY    ISLAND 


Zamna,  the  Eye  of   the   Sun 

THERE !    Who  comes  to  us  in 
a  canoe ! ' '  cried  the  people  in  the 
strange  land  when  the  Golden 
Hearted    and    the    wise    men 
arrived  from  the  Happy  Island. 
Many  of  the  natives  ran  away 
and  others  hid  in  the  bushes 
because  they  were  afraid  they 
were  going  to  be  killed.     None 
of  them  were  ever  so  badly  frightened  in  their 
lives,  and  none  had  ever  seen  white  men  before. 
'  *  Do  you  come  to  fight  us  ?  Are  you  warriors  ? ' ' 
they  asked. 

"I  am  your  friend,  not  your  foe,"  answered 
the  young  prince  kindly,  and  holding  a  white  flag 
high  over  his  head.  "To  be  a  warrior  is  to  have 
been  in  many  battles,  and  I  never  marched  a  day 
under  the  banner  of  the  king,  my  father.  I  come 
wholly  in  peace." 

"He  is  only  a  lad.  Surely  we  need  not  fear 
him,"  said  the  people  coming  back  to  crowd 
around  him  on  shore  and  to  examine  his  boat  and 
clothes  with  much  curiosity.  "Why,  then,  are  you 
here?"  they  finally  asked. 


ZAMNA,   THE   EYE   OF   THE    SUN  19 

* '  I  am  sent  by  my  father  to  teach  you  the  Good 
Law." 

"We  already  know  how  to  shoot  an  arrow 
through  the  heart  of  an  eagle.  We  have  taken  many 
captives  in  battle,  and  are  a  scourge  to  our  ene- 
mies, ' '  they  answered  proudly.  They  were  still  sus- 
picious of  their  visitors. 

"You  crush  a  worm  without  mercy,  never 
thinking  it  has  the  same  right  to  live  as  you  have, 
and  that  in  itself  it  is  more  wonderful  than  all  these 
things,"  said  the  Golden  Hearted,  reprovingly. 

The  natives  were  greatly  astonished.  Never 
had  they  heard  any  one  speak  like  this,  and  they 
could  not  imagine  what  sort  of  young  man  he  was. 
If  he  did  not  like  the  chase,  and  was  not  a  warrior, 
and  did  not  believe  in  killing  things,  they  could 
not  understand  him  at  all. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  the  Good  Law?  What 
is  it  anyhow?" 

"It  is  to  be  gentle  and  kind  to  all  creatures, 
and  to  treat  your  neighbor  as  if  he  were  your 
brother.  You  must  be  just  to  the  plant,  to  the  bull, 
to  the  horse  and  to  the  dog.  The  earth  too  has  a 
right  to  be  cultivated.  Neglect  it,  and  it  will  curse 
you;  fertilize  it,  and  it  will  show  gratitude  in  a 
thousand  ways.  May  your  fields  bring  forth  all  that 
is  good  to  eat,  and  may  your  countless  villages 
abound  with  prosperity. ' ' 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  so  modest  and  sin- 
cere in  speech  and  so  well  mannered  that  they  were 
pleased  with  him,  and  were  beginning  to  feel  quite 


20  THE   STORIES   OF   EL   DORADO 

friendly.  The  wise  men  also  said  many  nice  things 
to  them  and  did  all  they  could  to  make  the  situation 
pleasant. 

To  show  appreciation  and  to  welcome  the 
young  prince,  the  natives  gave  him  a  handful  of 
fireflies,  because  light  with  them  was  a  symbol  of 
order,  peace  and  virtue.  This  was  a  delicate, 
pretty  compliment  and  so  delighted  the  Golden 
Hearted  that  he  scattered  them  all  over  his  head. 
When  they  lit  in  his  soft,  wavy,  yellow  hair,  their 
bulging  eyes  and  gauzy  wings  sparkled  like  dia- 
monds and  they  did  not  try  to  fly  away  because 
he  sang  to  them : 

"Firefly,  firefly !  bright  little  thing, 
Light  me  to  bed  and  my  song  I  will  sing. 
Give  me  your  light  as  you  fly  o'er  my  head 
That  I  may  merrily  go  to  my  bed. 
Give  me  your  light  o'er  the  grass  as  you  creep 
That  I  may  joyfully  go  to  my  sleep. 
Come  little  firefly,  come  little  beast, 
Come  and  I'll  make  you  tomorrow  a  feast; 
Come,  little  candle,  that  flies  as  I  sing, 
Bright  little  fairy  bug— Night's  little  king. 
Come,  and  I'll  dance  as  you  guide  me  along, 
Come,  and  I  '11  pay  you,  my  bug,  with  a  song." 
Each  fly  has  four  spots,  one  back  of  each  eye 
and  under  each  wing  wThich  it  can  make  as  bright 
as  candle  light  when  it  chooses.  Its  body  is  about 
an  inch  and  a  half  long. 

When  the  prince  put  the  fireflies  in  his  hair, 
the  natives  present  touched  the  ground  with  their 


22  THE   STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

right  hands  and  placed  them  over  their  hearts  in 
token  of  respect.  He,  in  turn,  gave  them  the  white 
flag  he  carried  because  it  was  an  emblem  of  peace, 
friendship,  happiness  and  prosperity,  as  well  as 
purity  and  holiness,  and  he  intended  to  bring  them 
all  of  these  things. 

"What  is  your  wish!"  asked  the  natives  of 
each  of  the  wise  men. 

"We  desire  to  bathe  in  the  warm  surf  of  these 
shores  and  then  to  make  a  thank  offering  for  our 
safe  arrival  and  your  kindly  greeting,"  they 
answered. 

Criers  with  shrill  trumpets  and  drums  ran 
up  and  down  the  beach  to  call  in  the  fishing  boats. 

"The  men  wearing  skirts  are  coming  into  the 
sea,"  they  shouted,  and  the  Golden  Hearted  and 
his  followers  looked  at  each  other  with  a  smile 
when  they  heard  what  the  criers  said.  The  natives 
wore  only  breech  clouts  and  feather  and  shell 
ornaments,  much  like  the  Indians  of  today.  Never 
before  had  they  seen  men  wearing  long  white  robes, 
beards  and  high-crowned  hats  without  rims,  and 
having  a  square  black  cloth  hanging  over  the 
shoulders  in  the  back  like  a  veil. 

"Is  there  something  else  needed  to  make  you 
more  content  and  comfortable  ? ' '  asked  the  criers 
when  the  fishermen  had  all  come  ashore. 

"We  need  wood  and  stones  to  build  an  altar 
for  our  sacrifice,"  replied  the  Golden  Hearted. 

While  the  newcomers  were  splashing  in  the 
surf,  the  porters  brought  arms  full  of  wood,  and 


ZAMATA,   THE   EYE   OF   THE    SUX  23 

stones  large  and  small  and  piled  them  near  the 
boat  and  waited  to  see  what  the  visitors  would  do 
with  them. 

"Why  do  you  wear  skirts  like  women?"  they 
next  inquired,  as  the  bathers  were  putting  on  their 
robes  after  a  long  swim. 

"Because  we  work  for  humanity,"  said  the 
young  prince.  "No  man  is  really  great  who  has  not 
developed  a  woman's  tenderness  in  his  heart,  and 
that  our  fellows  may  know  that  we  have  this  qual- 
ity, we  wear  skirts  and  robes." 

This  is  why  in  our  day  the  king  and  priest 
and  judge  wear  long  gowns.  The  king  rules  men, 
women  and  children  alike;  the  judge  administers 
the  law  for  all  of  them,  and  the  minister  prays  for 
the  good  as  well  as  the  bad.  For  this  reason  we 
should  respect  their  robes  when  we  see  them. 

The  natives  did  not  know  the  name  of  the 
young  prince  but  when  they  saw  him  take  a  piece 
of  mica  and  hold  it  over  a  bit  of  cotton  until  the  sun 
set  it  on  fire,  they  exclaimed  * '  Zamna ! ' '  meaning 
* '  Eye  of  the  Sun, ' '  and  this  was  what  they  called 
him  while  he  lived  in  that  country.  The  wise  men 
had  placed  some  copal  on  top  of  the  altar  they  had 
made  of  wood  and  stone  and  it  was  not  long  before 
the  cotton  and  copal  began  to  burn.  As  it  did  so, 
the  Golden  Hearted  pointed  with  his  finger  to  a  ray 
of  the  midday  sun.  First  he  and  his  followers  held 
their  arms  high  overhead,  then  they  sat  in  a  squat- 
ting position  and  recited  all  the  incidents  of  their 
journey.  Finally  they  all  prostrated  themselves 


24  THE   STORIES   OF   EL   DORADO 

on  the  ground  and  returned  thanks  for  their  safety 
and  good  health.     Rising  to  their  feet,  the  wise 
men  began  to  chant  with  bared  heads  and  faces 
>  turned  toward  the  east. 

The  natives  thought  this  a  very  strange  per- 
formance and  debated  among  themselves  whether 
it  could  be  part  of  the  Good  Law  they  were  soon 
to  learn. 

"Do  you  come  to  destroy  our  old  faiths,  and 
to  bring  us  a  new  god!"  they  asked  as  the  wood 
on  the  altar  burned  low  and  the  chanting  ceased. 

"To  attack  any  form  of  worship  is  like  fight- 
ing darkness  with  a  stick.  The  only  way  to  over- 
come the  blackness  of  night  dwelling  in  men's 
hearts  is  to  kindle  a  light — and  the  light  of  the 
world  is  love,"  responded  the  Golden  Hearted  as 
he  slipped  his  arm  through  that  of  the  native  who 
had  asked  him  the  question.  "I  did  not  come  to 
quarrel  with  you.  I  want  you  to  think  of  me  as  a 
brother  ready  and  willing  to  serve  you  always.  In 
my  father's  kingdom,  the  man  who  serves  faithfully 
in  any  capacity  is  the  one  most  honored.  Take  this 
cross  to  the  chief  of  your  village  and  say  to  him 
that  He  who  is  the  Dew  of  Heaven,  Lord  of  the 
Dawn,  and  of  the  Four  Winds,  sends  his  only  son 
with  a  message  of  peace  and  good  will  to  all  his 
people.  Show  him  the  red  hand  painted  in  the 
center  and  tell  him  that  it  is  not  meant  to  convey 
strength,  power  and  mastery,  but  that  it  is  raised 
thus  as  an  act  of  supplication." 

As  the  swiftest  courier  in  the  group  was  gird- 
ing a  red  sash  tightly  around  his  waist  making 


ZAMNA,   THE   EYE   OF   THE    SUN  25 

ready  for  a  quick  run,  the  fishermen  came  up  from 
their  huts  and  invited  the  travelers  to  come  and 
share  their  humble  noonday  meal.  The  Golden 
Hearted  was  glad  to  accept  the  extended  hospital- 
ity, not  because  he  had  no  provisions  of  his  own, 
but  because  he  valued  their  good  opinion  and  was 
ready  to  do  whatever  he  thought  would  please 
them. 

They  were  a  gentle,  kindly  folk,  these  simple 
fishermen.  Not  only  were  they  industrious,  but 
they  were  polite  and  reverential  to  their  superiors 
and  as  happy  as  a  lot  of  children  when  they  found 
the  strange  prince  under  their  roof.  In  all  the 
after  years  they  would  have  been  willing  to  die  for 
him. 

The  wise  men  of  his  company  were  so  strict  in 
their  habits  that  they  refused  to  eat  the  flesh  of  any 
animal,  and  their  simple  meal  was  soon  finished. 
But  while  every  one  else  was  at  the  table  they  per- 
formed a  sacred  dance  in  a  pompous  and  solemn 
style,  circling  around  the  Golden  Hearted  who  sat 
by  himself.  They  had  green  palms  in  their  hands 
and  every  once  in  a  while  they  would  bow  to  the 
prince.  In  a  peculiar  sing-song  way  they  chanted 
a  long  poem  telling  about  the  history  of  the  Happy 
Island. 

Imagine  how  funny  they  must  have  looked 
whirling  round  and  round  with  their  long  robes, 
black  veils  and  wide  sleeves  filled  with  the  wind. 
They  kept  on  their  high  hats  and  with  their  long 
beards  and  hair  flying  in  every  direction,  it  was  no 


26      THE  STORIES  OE  EL  DOEADO 

wonder  that  the  fishermen  and  other  people 
laughed  and  thought  it  was  some  kind  of  game. 
The  dancers  were  not  at  all  offended,  and  when 
the  natives  asked  if  they  know  how  to  play  ball, 
they  answered  good  naturedly: 

"No,  but  we  would  like  very  much  to  learn. M 

"Come  out  here  into  the  alley  and  we  will 
teach  you.  By  and  by  you  may  give  us  lessons  in 
many  things,  but  we  are  go:ng  to  give  you  the 
first  one." 

Then  they  all  laughed,  a^d  so  did  the  young 
prince  and  the  wise  old  men. 

The  alley  where  they  played  ball  was  one  hun- 
dred feet  long  and  had  smooth,  white-washed  walls 
about  twelve  feet  high  in  the  center,  but  lower  at 
each  end  where  there  was  a  ^ectangular  nook  for 
the  players  to  rest.  The  walls  were  quite  thick  at 
the  base  but  tapered  toward  the  top  which  was 
finished  with  battlements  and  turrets. 

Before  the  game  began,  the  oldest  player 
among  them  threw  the  small,  solid,  India-rubber 
ball  four  times  around  the  alley  muttering  some 
words  to  himself  all  the  time.  The  owner  of  the 
ground  made  the  old  man  a  trifling  present,  and 
then  the  game  began  in  good  earnest. 

The  rule  was  to  hit  the  ball  only  with  the  knee, 
elbow  or  shoulder,  not  with  the  hands  nor  feet.  The 
wise  men  with  their  long  gowns  and  veils  had  a 
hard  time  keeping  up  with  th<  native  players,  who 
wore  very  little  clothing  and  were  quick  and  sure 
footed.  Two  on  each  side  played  at  a  time,  and 


ZAMNA,   THE   EYE   OF   THE    SUN  27 

the  great  point  was  to  send  the  ball  against  the 
opposite  wall  or  else  over  it  is  often  as  possible 
without  allowing  it  to  touch  the  ground.  There 
were  two  referees;  one  being  the  Golden  Hearted 
and  the  other,  the  oldest  player. 

Everybody  shouted  and  laughed  at  the  clumsy 
playing  of  the  wise  men  who  tried  ever  so  hard  to 
imitate  the  things  they  saw  tho  others  doing.  It  was 
a  great  effort  for  them  and  they  panted  and  blowed 
as  they  ran.  Very  often  the^  tumbled  heels  over 
head  by  stepping  on  their  skirts  in  front.  Then 
they  would  all  go  down  together  in  a  heap,  one  on 
top  of  the  other,  and  the  refero^s  would  have  much 
to  do  before  they  could  get  them  all  straightened 
out  again.  It  was  jolly  good  fun,  but  required  con- 
siderable time  and  patience  even  for  an  expert 
player  to  send  the  ball  over  the  wall  with  either  his 
elbow,  knee  or  shoulder. 

In  the  center  of  the  wal1  on  each  side  was  a 
huge  stone  carved  with  images,  having  a  hole  in 
the  center  barely  big  enough  for  the  ball  to  go 
through.  Whoever  was  skilful  enough  to  make  a 
drive  through  one  of  them,  not  only  won  the  game 
for  his  side,  but  was  entitled  to  the  cloaks  of  all 
those  present.  Of  course,  this  was  a  very  difficult 
feat  to  accomplish  and  made  quite  a  hero  of  the 
man  who  succeeded,  so  every  player  tried  for  the 
honor. 

This  day  the  young  native  who  first  hailed  the 
Golden  Hearted  when  he  landed,  by  a  lucky  toss  of 
the  elbow  sent  the  ball  flying  through  the  hole  on 


28  THE   STORIES   OF   EL   DOKADO 

the  wise  men's  side.  In  a  moment  the  spectators 
scrambled  down  from  their  seats  and  ran  away  as 
fast  as  they  could  go.  The  wise  men  stood  looking 
after  them  in  wide-eyed  astonishment,  and  before 
they  had  time  to  get  out  of  the  alley  the  victor 
stripped  them  of  their  veils  and  then  their  tall  hats 
looked  like  a  piece  of  stove  pipe  with  a  cover  over 
one  end  of  it. 

The  Golden  Hearted  insisted  that  each  man 
should  give  back  whatever  he  had  won  in  a  bet  on 
the  game,  and  for  each  loss  of  this  kind  he  gave 
both  winner  and  loser  a  present,  and  promised  to 
teach  their  sons  and  daughters  how  to  weave  cloth 
having  figures  in  it.  In  such  a  way  he  taught  them 
how  to  count,  and  to  this  day  they  have  no  other 
method  of  reproducing  a  pattern  perfectly.  Each 
stitch  must  be  counted  and  only  a  certain  number 
of  each  color  put  in,  and  all  this  must  be  carried  in 
the  head.  The  weavers  are  not  allowed  to  write  it 
down. 

At  nightfall  the  runners  came  in  breathless 
with  haste  to  say  that  the  chief  of  the  village  was 
sending  a  councilor  and  official  guide  to  welcome 
and  escort  the  strange  white  men  to  his  dwelling. 
But  the  Golden  Hearted  was  not  in  a  hurry  to  leave 
the  fishermen  and  common  people  with  whom  he 
had  spent  the  day,  except  for  a  short  visit.  When 
he  returned  he  taught  them  how  to  make  sun-dried 
bricks  with  which  to  build  houses,  also  to  shape  the 
round  water  jars  of  brown  pottery  and  how  to 
ornament  them  and  the  gourds  they  drank  from. 


ZAMNA,   THE   EYE    OF   THE    SUN  29 

The  wise  men  assisted  him  in  all  this,  and  in  time, 
the  natives  not  only  built  comfortable  houses  for 
themselves  but  learned  how  to  fashion  many  pretty 
designs  of  cornices  and  wall  decorations  out  of 
stucco  which  they  tinted  many  colors. 

The  first  thing  he  did  when  he  went  to  the  vil- 
lage was  to  make  the  chief  king,  and  then  he 
ordered  some  of  the  wise  men  who  were  architects 
and  engineers  to  lay  out  a  splendid  city  and  help 
the  natives  to  build  it.  Before  he  came  there  were 
nothing  but  trails  from  one  part  of  the  country  to 
the  other  and  the  simple  tradesmen  did  not  know 
how  to  exchange  their  wares.  The  Golden  Hearted 
became  the  patron  of  the  builders  and  traders  and 
lived  many  years  with  the  people  of  Aztlan. 

While  in  that  country,  he  occupied  himself  with 
the  building  of  a  sacred  temple  dedicated  to  those 
who  served  the  Good  Law.  It  had  four  beautiful 
halls  facing  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  com- 
pass. That  on  the  east  was  the  Hall  of  Gold  and 
its  walls  were  almost  covered  with  plates  of  the 
precious  rretal  having  delicately-chased  pictures 
over  its  shining  surface.  To  the  west  wTas  the  Hall 
of  Emeralds  arid  Turquoises  where  many  gems 
were  studded  into  the  plaster.  Tho  south  hall  was 
finished  in  silver  while  the  northern  hall  was  made 
of  jasper  stuck  with  colored  shells  in  curious  pat- 
terns. In  each  room  there  was  a  tapestry  of  yellow, 
blue,  white  and  red  feather  mosaic  that  was  as  fine 
as  a  painting  and  in  some  cases  perfectly  repre- 
sented men  and  animals.  In  front  of  the  main 


30  THE   STORIES   OF   EL   DORADO 

entrance  for  many  years  stood  a  winged  lion  cut  out 
of  granite  holding  an  image  of  the  Golden  Hearted 
in  his  mouth. 

The  name  of  the  city  was  Mayapan  and  the 
king  who  had  been  merely  a  village  chief  was  the 
celebrated  Cocomes  of  the  olden  times. 


THE    BALL    PLAYER 


Votan,  the    People's    Heart 

NE  evening  the  Golden  Hearted 
saw  a  ball  of  fire  rise  in  the 
East  just  about  where  the 
Happy  Island  was  located, 
and  it  followed  the  course  of 
the  sun.  Then  he  knew  it  was 
time  for  him  to  take  some  of 
the  wise  men  and  go  into  a 
new  place,  so  he  lay  awake 
long  into  the  night  and 
thought  how  best  to  begin  to  get  ready.  He 
knew  the  people  loved  him  very  much,  but  he 
remembered  his  oath  to  his  father,  the  king,  and 
though  he  was  sad  at  heart,  he  determined  to  leave 
the  next  day  but  one.  He  had  not  yet  spoken  to 
anybody  about  his  intention,  but  it  must  have  been 
right  else  it  would  not  have  happened  that  a  whole 
lot  more  wise  men  came  to  the  city  that  very  day. 
'  *  Now, ' '  he  said  to  himself,  ' '  I  can  leave  these 
wise  men  to  help  the  poor  natives,  and  I  will  take 
seven  of  their  families  with  me." 

Seeing  that  it  was  daybreak  and  the  sun  about 
to  rise,  the  Golden  Hearted  sprang  out  of  bed  and 
hastily  washing  his  face  and  hands,  threw  the  win- 
dow wide  open  and  lifting  his  arms  high  overhead 
said: 

"Hail!  Beauty  of  the  Day!  Homage  to  thee 
who  riseth  above  the  horizon.  I  come  near  to  thee. 


32  THE    STORIES    OF   EL   DORADO 

Thou  openest  the  gates  of  another  day.  Great 
Illuminator  out  of  the  golden,  place  thyself  as  a 
protector  behind  me.  Guide  and  keep  me  safe  on 
the  journey  that  1  am  about  to  undertake. 

Then  he  dressed  himself  as  quickly  as  possible 
and  went  out  to  find  the  wise  men  and  tell  them 
what  he  was  going  to  do.  They  were  willing  to 
go  with  him,  but  King  Cocomes  was  greatly  disap- 
pointed, though  he  felt  more  contented  when  the 
Golden  Hearted  promised  to  come  back  again. 

"Quiet  thy  heart,  great  king,  and  trust  in  my 
love,"  was  what  the  young  prince  said  to  him. 

The  travelers  had  to  pass  through  the  country 
of  the  Quinames  who  were  a  very  wild  people.  They 
went  about  naked  with  long  matted  hair  hanging 
over  their  shoulders,  and  they  ate  raw  meat,  fruits 
and  herbs.  They  knew  nothing  about  cooking,  but 
could  make  pulque,  a  kind  of  beer,  out  of  maguey 
plant,  a  cousin  of  the  cactus  family.  On  this  they 
often  got  very  drunk.  Then  they  were  fierce  and 
quarrelsome.  At  all  times  these  people  were  proud 
of  their  strength  and  cunning  in  battle  and  in 
hunting  the  ferocious  beasts  roaming  over  the  hills 
and  plains.  The  Quinames  were  really  a  dreadful 
set  of  men,  but  the  Golden  Hearted  was  not  afraid 
of  them.  He  heard  all  kinds  of  stories  about  their 
cruelty  and  savage  ways  of  living,  but  he  went 
quietly  among  them  and  parceled  out  the  land  and 
showed  them  how  to  cultivate  it.  The  Quinames 
lived  entirely  by  hunting  and  fishing  and  had  no 
houses.  When  one  place  did  not  suit  them  any 


VOTAN,  THE  PEOPLE'S  HEART      33 

longer,  they  moved  to  another,  and  would  never 
have  learned  how  to  live  civilized  except  for  the 
coming  of  the  prince  and  the  wise  men. 

And  what  a  terrible  journey  it  was!  It  was 
in  a  tropic  country  where  there  was  so  much  warm 
rain  that  everything  grew  rank  and  luxuriant.  For 
whole  days  the  Golden  Hearted  marched  in  the 
shadow  of  ferns  as  big  as  trees  and  the  ground 
was  covered  with  briers  and  nettles.  Sometimes 
he  had  to  go  around  muddy  swamps  or  right 
through  bushes  filled  with  snakes.  Then,  too,  he 
had  to  swim  across  wide  rivers  and  climb  steep, 
rocky  mountains.  In  the  tangled  leaves  and  vines 
hundreds  of  parrots  screamed  and  screeched  at 
them,  while  on  all  sides  the  monkeys  threw  sticks 
from  the  branches  of  the  trees.  Gnats  and  other 
poisonous  insects  stung  his  hands  and  face. 

He  traveled  like  this  many  days.  Whenever 
he  went  into  camp,  the  Golden  Hearted  would 
invite  the  Quinames  to  dine  with  him  in  order  that 
he  might  teach  them  how  to  eat  cooked  food  out 
of  dishes.  They  could  not  understand  the  use  of 
cups  and  basins,  because  they  drank  out  of  cocoa- 
nut  shells  and  had  never  seen  a  napkin  or  table- 
cloth. They  had  always  been  in  the  habit  of  taking 
the  food  in  their  fingers  and  pulling  it  apart,  and 
were  not  very  nice  about  keeping  their  hands  clean 
either. 

Of  course,  all  this  was  very  disagreeable  to  the 
Golden  Hearted,  but  he  was  as  patient  and  kind  as 
possible  and  those  fierce  Quinames  would  not  have 


34      THE  STOEIES  OF  EL  DOKADO 

harmed  a  hair  in  his  head.  When  they  asked  him 
where  he  was  going  he  always  answered,  ' '  To  seek 
my  brothers,  the  Culebra,  of  whom  thou  shalt  know 
more  by  and  by. ' ' 

"And  from  where  contest  thou!" 

"From  the  mountain  of  Little  Descent,  and 
where  I  tarry,  there  will  I  build  Nachan,  the  city 
of  Serpents." 

The  ignorant  barbarians  did  not  know  that 
the  word  serpent  meant  wisdom  in  the  language  of 
the  Happy  Island,  but  the  wise  men  were  much 
pleased  because  they  knew  that  this  city  was  to  be 
a  great  seat  of  learning  and  that  they  would  have 
charge  of  the  temples  and  schools  when  it  was 
completed. 

"Who  art  thou  and  thy  followers!"  was  often 
asked  of  them  on  the  way. 

' t  We  are  Chanes  and  the  sons  of  Chanes, ' '  but 
this  did  not  mean  anything  to  the  savages  either, 
because  they  did  not  know  that  "Chane"  was  the 
name  of  the  wise  men  in  their  own  country. 

One  day  a  culprit  was  brought  before  the 
Golden  Hearted  accused  of  stealing  a  curious  look- 
ing stick  with  yellow  grains  fastened  all  around  it. 
The  Quinames  said  it  was  good  food  and  they 
pulled  off  its  green  wrappings  and  held  it  before 
the  fire  until  it  was  browned  and  then  ate  it.  The 
Golden  Hearted  and  the  wise  men  had  never  seen 
this  plant  before  and  were  very  much  interested  in 
their  discovery.  But  they  did  not  think  it  well  to 
say  so. 


36      THE  STORIES  OF  EL  DORADO 

"Dost  thou  say  this  man  is  a  thief !"  asked 
the  Golden  Hearted. 

1  i  Yes,  yes ;  we  knew  where  the  bush  grew,  but 
we  were  waiting  until  it  should  be  more  yellow 
before  giving  it  to  thee, ' '  said  the  captors. 

i  i  I  will  prove  thee, ' '  said  the  Golden  Hearted 
to  the  accused.  He  took  a  piece  of  finely-polished 
black  stone  from  his  breast  pocket  and  held  it  up 
before  the  prisoner  saying,  "Look  into  its  shining 
face  and  beholding  thine  own  image,  swear  by  the 
Heart  of  Heaven  to  speak  the  truth. ' ' 

The  poor  savage  nearly  died  of  fright  when 
he  saw  himself  because  he  thought  it  was  an  omen 
of  instant  death.  He  quaked  and  trembled  and  his 
eyes  were  as  big  and  round  as  walnuts. 

<•  <•  From  whence  came  this  goodly  seed  ? ' '  asked 
the  Golden  Hearted  kindly. 

"From  the  edge  of  the  wood  where  a  silver 
band  of  water  rots  an  old  tree,"  answered  the  man, 
still  pallid  with  fear. 

* '  Take  thy  share,  and  leave  me  what  thy  accus- 
ers intended  for  me. ' ' 

The  prisoner  stared  at  him  stupidly  for  a 
moment  then  his  better  nature  spoke  and  he  took 
only  one  grain,  and  would  have  fled  into  the  jungle 
if  the  Golden  Hearted  had  not  caught  him  by  the 
mantle. 

"Look  again  into  the  mirror  of  truth." 

This  time  the  savage  was  not  so  afraid  and  he 
gazed  curiously  at  the  stone  for  some  time.  Its  sur- 
face was  perfectly  blank. 


VOTAN,  THE  PEOPLE'S  HEAKT      37 

"Tell  me  what  thou  seest?" 

"  Nothing  hut  its  own  dark  face  speaks  to  the 
eye  of  thy  servant,"  responded  the  accused. 

''Then  know,  my  brothers,"  said  the  Golden 
Hearted  turning  to  the  astonished  Quinames,  ' '  this 
man  is  innocent  and  must  go  free." 

' '  Thou  art  welcome  to  my  life, ' '  exclaimed  the 
accused  joyfully ; ' ' thou  hast  saved  it  and  it  is  thine 
to  command." 

"Use  it  to  perfect  the  growth  of  this  strange 
seed  so  that  thy  fellows  and  all  grain-eating  crea- 
tures may  profit  hy  thy  labors. ' ' 

The  grain  found  in  this  manner  is  known  to 
the  people  of  that  country  to-day  as  maize.  We 
call  it  Indian  corn. 

When  the  wise  men  heard  about  it,  they  beg- 
ged the  Golden  Hearted  to  let  them  build  a  white 
house  where  any  one  accused  of  crime  would  be 
safe  until  the  judges  could  decide  whether  they 
were  guilty  or  not.  The  prince  thought  it  was  a 
very  good  plan  and  said : 

i  1 1  will  put  the  black  stone  in  it  and  will  make 
a  law  that  no  man  shall  be  called  guilty  if  the  sur- 
face of  the  stone  does  not  change  when  he  is  made 
to  look  into  it.  And  to  commemorate  our  safe 
passage  through  this  wild  country,  I  will  order 
several  white  houses  built,  and  each  one  shall  be 
called  Refuges  Against  Fear." 

In  those  days  no  one  seemed  to  think  it  was 
wrong  to  kill  a  person  who  was  said  to  be  a 
thief  or  had  done  anything  his  neighbors  did  not 


38      THE  STORIES  OF  EL  DORADO 

like,  so  it  was  very  necessary  for  the  Golden 
Hearted  to  teach  them  to  be  just  to  each  other.  He 
told  the  Quinames  that  they  must  be  sure  about  a 
thing  before  they  acted  harshly,  and  he  cautioned 
them  to  be  careful  about  believing  or  repeat- 
ing unkind  remarks  they  heard.  It  was  quite  a  long 
time  before  the  Quinames  would  even  try  to  do  this, 
but  finally  they  helped  to  build  the  houses  and 
were  honorable  enough  not  to  harm  any  one  once 
inside  the  walls.  Many  a  useful  life  was  saved  in 
this  manner,  but  sometimes  a  poor  refugee  was 
overtaken  and  beaten  to  death  with  clubs  before 
reaching  the  house. 

Because  the  Golden  Hearted  succeeded  in  per- 
suading the  warlike  Quinames  to  live  peaceably 
with  their  neighbors  and  to  treat  each  other  well, 
he  was  called  in  that  and  many  other  countries, 
Votan,  The  People's  Heart,  to  distinguish  him 
from  the  Heart  of  Heaven  which  was  their  name 
for  God.  His  was  truly  a  great  work  because  it 
was  done  without  a  selfish  motive  and  for  no 
reward  except  the  good  of  his  fellow  men. 


Lord    of  the  Sacred  Tunkel 


one  living   can  tell  how  many 
(years  ago  it  was  that  the  Golden 
Hearted  built  Nachan,  the  city 
of  wise  men,  nor  how  many  years 
it  took  to  do  the  work,  but  it  has 
always  been  said  to  be  a  very 
beautiful  place.    Anyhow,  it  was 
after  he  left  the  Quinames,  and  it  was 
in  a  country  very  much  more  civilized. 
The    Golden    Hearted    had    many 
happy  days  there. 

Even  if  he  was  a  grown  man  and  a 
great  prince,  he  was  very  fond  of 
children  and  one  day  he  visited  the 
Temple  of  the  Sun  where  the  pupils  from 
school  were  having  a  holiday.  They  all 
had  on  their  best  clothes,  and  their  faces 
and  hands  were  clean,  but  they  were 
shouting,  and  singing  and  playing  games,  very 
much  like  the  boys  and  girls  we  know.  They 
felt  sure  that  the  Golden  Hearted  was  their  good 
friend  and  when  they  saw  him  coming  they  ran 
out  into  the  courtyard  and  crowded  around  him 
as  thick  as  flies. 


40  THE    STOKIES   OF  EL  DOKADO 

' '  A  story !  a  story ! ' '  they  said ;  '  *  Please,  good 
Prince,  tell  us  a  story. " 

"What  shall  it  be  about?"  asked  the  Golden 
Hearted  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

' '  Something  very  perfect  and  beautiful, ' '  they 
said. 

' '  Let  me  think  what  we  have  in  the  world  that 
is  both  perfect  and  beautiful.  Which  would  you 
prefer,  something  man  has  made,  or  that  God  has 
made?" 

The  children  were  very  much  puzzled  to  know 
which  to  choose.  They  tried  hard  to  think  what 
man  had  made  that  was  without  any  faults  and 
could  not  be  imitated  or  improved,  either  in 
appearance  or  quality,  but  they  were  not  satisfied 
with  anything.  Then  they  began  to  think  about 
the  trees,  the  flowers,  the  precious  stones,  the  sky 
and  the  sea,  and  were  getting  more  and  more  con- 
fused all  the  time  when  the  Golden  Hearted 
laughed  and  said: 

"I  will  tell  you  what  we  will  do.  We  will 
send  for  the  wise  men  and  ask  them  to  choose. ' ' 

The  wise  men  thought  it  was  great  fun,  so 
they  hurried  as  fast  as  they  could  and  were  quite 
out  of  breath  when  they  got  near  enough  to  speak 
to  the  Golden  Hearted. 

"Tell  me  something  you  know  in  the  world 
that  is  both  perfect  and  beautiful, ' '  he  said  to  the 
wise  man  who  had  charge  of  the  Temple  of  the 
Sun,  and  was  first  to  arrive. 

"The  great,  blazing,  glorious  sun,77  he  replied. 


LORD   OF  THE  SACKED   TUNKEL  41 

"None  but  God  could  have  made  it,  and  we  adore 
it  and  sacrifice  to  it  because  it  is  the  mask  behind 
which  God  hides  His  ever-smiling  face." 

Many  of  the  children  shaded  their  eyes  with 
their  hands  and  took  a  quick  look  at  the  sun  over- 
head, and  thought  that  was  a  good  answer. 

"What  do  you  know  in  the  world  that  is  both 
perfect  and  beautiful!"  asked  the  prince  of  the 
next  comer,  who  was  a  man  wise  in  the  art  of  work- 
ing metals.  He  had  not  heard  the  first  answer, 
but,  without  stopping  a  minute  to  think,  said : 

"Gold;  because  it  is  like  the  substance  of  the 
sun  and  cannot  be  made  by  putting  any  metals 
together  nor  by  any  mixture  of  chemicals." 

The  Golden  Hearted  knew  that  was  a  cor- 
rect answer  but  he  wanted  the  children  to  be  sat- 
isfied, and  he  was  not  sure  that  all  of  them  under- 
stood it. 

"Do  you  know  that  way  down  in  the  earth 
gold  is  created,  and  yet  it  is  shining  and  bright 
and  yellow  like  the  light  of  the  sun!  This  accounts 
for  its  beauty,  and  it  is  perfect  because  it  is  abso- 
lutely pure  in  itself." 

The  next  man  that  came  along  was  wise,  but  he 
looked  like  a  farmer. 

"What  have  you  seen  in  your  life  that  cannot 
be  improved  or  made  prettier  ! ' ' 

"Wheat,"  was  his  quick  reply,  "because  it 
is  not  a  blend  of  any  of  the  grains  or  grasses  but 
grows  out  of  the  ground  perfect.  It  is  beautiful  in 
every  phase  of  its  life  whether  it  waves  in  the  wind 


42  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

like  a  sea  of  emeralds  or  ripens  into  great  sheaves 
of  gold,  or  its  plump  grains  tempt  you  to  satisfy 
hunger.  It  is  the  best  friend  man  has,-  and  it  would 
be  very  hard  for  him  to  live  without  it. ' ' 

That  was  such  a  sensible  answer,  that  the 
children  all  clapped  their  hands  with  delight 
because  they  knew  at  once  that  it  was  correct.  Just 
then  the  Golden  Hearted  looked  up  and  saw  one 
of  his  best  perfumers  in  the  group  of  wise  men. 

"Will  you  give  us  an  answer  to  this  ques- 
tion!" he  asked. 

"I  should  differ  from  all  the  others" —began 
the  man. 

"Never  mind,  tell  us  what  in  your  line  is  the 
most  perfect  and  beautiful  thing  you  know." 

"A  jasmine  blossom,"  replied  the  perfumer, 
"because  its  delicate  odor  cannot  be  imitated  no 
matter  what  combination  of  oils  or  extracts  we 
make.  I  cannot  say  that  of  any  other  flower  in  the 
world." 

The  children  could  have  answered  that  ques- 
tion themselves  if  they  had  only  thought  quickly 
enough.  They  were  quite  familiar  with  the  dainty 
little  white  flowers  and  tender  vine  of  the  jasmine 
as  well  as  its  sweet  smell,  because  it  grew  wild  in 
their  country. 

While  the  perfumer  was  talking,  the  Golden 
Hearted  picked  up  a  shining  pebble  near  his  feet. 

"Now,  children,"  he  said,  "in  this  small 
rough  stone  I  find  something  perfect  and  beautiful. 
It  is  an  opal,  the  only  one  of  the  precious  gems  I 


LORD  OF  THE  SACRED   TUNKEL  43 

do  not  know  how  to  counterfeit.  Join  hands,  as 
many  of  you  as  can,  and  dance  around  me  while 
I  sing  you  a  song  about  the  birth  of  the  opal.  One 
of  the  wise  men  gave  him  a  Sacred  Tunkel,  a  kind 
of  guitar  which  he  brought  from  the  Temple  of 
the  Sun,  and  this  was  what  he  sang : 

The  Birth  of  the  Opal 

A  dew  drop  came  with  a  spark  of  flame 
He  had  caught  from  the  sun's  last  rays 

To  a  violet's  breast,  where  he  lay  at  rest 
Till  the  hours  brought  back  the  day. 

The  rose  looked  down  with  a  blush  and  a  frown 
But  she  smiled  all  at  once  to  view 

Her  own  bright  form  with  its  coloring  warm 
Reflected  back  by  the  dew. 

Then  the  stranger  took  a  stolen  look 

At  the  sky  so  soft  and  blue, 
And  a  leaflet  green  with  its  silver  sheen 

Was  seen  by  the  idler  too. 

A  cold  north  wind,  as  he  thus  reclined, 

Of  a  sudden  raged  around, 
And  a  maiden  fair,  who  was  walking  there 

Next  morning  an  opal  found. 

Some  of  the  pupils  were  inclined  to  think  that 
the  singing  of  the  Golden  Hearted  was  the  most 
perfect  and  beautiful  they  had  ever  heard  and  they 
all  liked  to  listen  to  the  low  plaintive  notes  of  the 


44  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

Tunkel.  Those  that  could  not  take  part  in  the 
dance  gathered  around  their  teachers  and  asked: 

"What  shall  we  do  to  honor  the  good  prince 
and  show  him  how  much  we  appreciate  his  efforts 
to  amuse  and  please  us?" 

"Ask  him  to  allow  you  to  answer  your  own 
question/'  they  said,  "and  then  tell  him  some- 
thing about  your  feathered  friends.  Have  you  for- 
gotten the  hermit  of  the  woods  with  its  rainbow 
plumes  three  feet  long  and  its  gay  scarlet  breast  ? ' ' 

The  name  of  this  bird  is  the  Quetzal,  and  it 
lives  on  the  high  mountain  tops  all  alone  and  is 
only  about  the  size  of  a  pigeon. 

When  the  Golden  Hearted  finished  singing 
and  the  dancers  were  all  standing  still,  a  bright- 
faced  boy  approached  and  said,  '  *  We  have  an 
answer  to  our  own  question,  good  prince." 

"Say  on,  my  little  man,  I  am  listening  to 
you." 

i  l  It  is  the  Quetzal,  the  rarest  bird  in  the  world, 
and  the  most  perfect  and  beautiful  of  all  feath- 
ered creatures.  With  its  brilliant  luster  plumes 
I  crown  you  Lord  of  the  Sacred  Tunkel,  as  a 
reward  for  your  sweet  singing.  May  the  children 
of  every  land  know  and  love  you  as  we  do." 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  much  surprised  and 
pleased  with  his  new  crown  and  ever  after  wore 
the  feathers  of  the  Quetzal  in  his  head  dress.  So 
long  as  he  remained  in  Nachan,  he  was  called  the 
Lord  of  the  Sacred  Tunkel  because  he  could  play 
so  well  upon  this  queerly-shaped  guitar. 


The    Stars'    Ball 

was  not  so  very  long  after  the 
children  had  crowned  him  Lord 
of  the  Sacred  Tunkel  until  the 
Golden  Hearted  planned  to  have 
them  all  with  him  again.  He 
made  up  his  mind  to  spend  his 
lifetime  teaching  because  he 
thought  that  was  the  most 
useful  thing  he  could  do,  but  he  was  determined 
to  make  the  lessons  for  the  children  as  pleasant 
as  possible.  He  and  the  wise  men  taught  the 
older  people  how  to  divide  the  days  into  weeks, 
months  and  years,  and  how  to  make  a  calendar,  and 
all  about  the  sun  and  the  moon  and  the  stars,  but 
this  was  too  hard  for  the  children.  So  he  decided 
to  take  them  up  on  the  roof  of  the  Temple  of  the 
Sun  in  the  moonlight  and  tell  them  some  simple 
pretty  story  about  the  sky  at  night. 

In  that  country,  the  houses  were  built  with 
flat  roofs  covered  with  red  tiles,  and  there  was 
either  a  ladder  or  a  winding  staircase  from  the 
ground,  so  it  was  not  much  trouble  to  get  up  on 
the  roof.  In  fact,  many  of  the  dwellings  had 
beautiful  potted  plants  up  there,  and  it  was  really 
a  pleasant  place  to  go  of  a  warm  summer  even- 
ing. This  night  there  was  not  a  breath  of  air,  and 
the  children  did  not  need  anything  on  their  heads 


46  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

nor  any  wraps.  Only  around  the  lower  edges  of 
the  sky  were  there  clouds  and  these  were  soft  and 
white  like  big  piles  of  cotton.  The  whole  heavens 
looked  like  a  bright  blue  veil  thickly  sprinkled 
with  diamonds.  It  was  very  still  and  quiet  and 
there  were  so  many  flowers  in  bloom  that  the  very 
atmosphere  was  fragrant  with  them.  In  the  mill 
pond  close  by  the  frogs  croaked,  and  around  the 
eaves  of  the  houses  the  crickets  and  katydids  were 
singing  an  evening  hymn. 

It  was  just  a  lovely  night  to  go  out  and  nearly 
every  one  was  in  the  street.  The  doors  and  win- 
dows were  wide  open,  and  the  people  went  about 
bareheaded  and  laughed  and  chatted  to  their 
heart's  content. 

"The  goodness  of  this  perfect  night  be  upon 
my  little  friends,"  said  the  prince,  when  he  came 
up  on  the  roof  of  the  Temple  and  found  a  lot  of 
children  he  knew.  "I  have  invited  you  to  witness 
the  stars '  ball  to-night,  but  before  we  begin,  I  must 
introduce  you  to  the  most  prominent  ones." 

Then  he  pointed  out  the  milky  way  with  its 
millions  of  stars  that  looked  like  little  pin  heads 
in  a  band  of  light  because  they  were  so  far  away. 
Below  the  handle  of  the  big  dipper,  and  off  to  one 
side  was  the  north  star.  Jupiter  with  his  broad 
dark  bands  and  tiny  moons  was  there,  and  so  was 
Saturn  with  his  three  rings.  Over  in  another  place 
was  Mars  twinkling  and  batting  his  eyes  as  if  he 
wanted  to  fight  something.  The  Dog  Star  was 
still  lower  down  and  quite  by  himself. 


THE   STARS'  BALL  47 

"I  will  first  make  you  acquainted  with  the 
big-faced,  silver  moon,'7  said  the  prince.  "She 
is  sailing  along  as  if  she  were  in  a  great  hurry, 
but  there  will  be  time  enough  for  you  to  see  the 
man  up  there  if  you  look  sharp  about  it." 

The  children  knew  there  was  not  a  surely  man 
in  the  moon  so  they  all  laughed  and  clapped  their 
hands  and  then  threw  kisses  at  the  beautiful  queen 
of  the  night. 

"I  cannot  show  you  Mercury,  the  messenger 
of  the  sun,  because  he  is  such  a  sleepy  head  he  has 
already  gone  to  bed.  He  never  stays  up  long  after 
the  sun  goes  down,  but  he  is  an  industrious  little 
fellow  and  often  gets  up  first  in  the  morning. " 

The  children  thought  that  was  a  very  funny 
way  to  speak  of  a  star,  but  they  saw  the  prince  was 
in  a  good  humor  and  they  enjoyed  listening  to 
what  he  said. 

"Venus  is  our  evening  star,"  he  continued, 
pointing  to  the  brightest  object  in  the  western  sky, 
"and  she  is  winking  and  smiling  at  us.  Look 
closely  now,  and  see  if  you  can  find  her. ' ' 

When  all  the  children  had  seen  her,  the  Golden 
Hearted  turned  to  another  part  of  the  heavens  and 
said,  "Here  is  old  Father  Time,  who  frowns  and 
scowls,  and  finally  grinds  the  life  out  of  our 
bodies."  He  was  speaking  about  Saturn  because 
it  rolls  and  tumbles  one  way  while  its  three  rings 
whirl  around  the  other  way,  and  all  the  people  in 
olden  times  believed  that  the  stars  could  give  good 
or  bad  luck  and  could  make  our  lives  long  or  short. 


AN     OLD-FASHIONED    ALMANAC 


THE   STARS'  BALL  49 

There  were  a  number  of  this  kind  of  fortune  tellers 
among  the  wise  men,  so  of  course  the  prince  knew 
what  they  thought  about  the  stars.  The  children 
understood  it  too,  and  when  he  pointed  out  Saturn, 
they  said  to  each  other  in  a  whisper,  "It  is  the 
death  star;  let  us  hope  it  will  not  shine  upon  us  nor 
upon  those  we  love. ' ' 

'  *  If  we  have  need  to  fear  the  Master  of  Time, 
we  have  every  reason  to  love  the  broad-belted 
planet  with  its  sturdy  little  companions.  It  has 
been  rightly  named  'The  Beneficent,'  '  said  the 
prince— indicating  the  position  of  Jupiter  among 
the  stars.  "Its  children  pop  in  and  out  behind  it 
as  if  they  were  playing  hide  and  seek.1' 

For  ages  people  thought  that  Jupiter  gave 
them  good  luck  and  made  them  wise,  tender  and 
kind.  This  is  why  the  children  said,  "The  big, 
white,  shining  star  has  a  heart  like  our  prince." 

Mars  is  the  nearest  planet  to  us,  and  he  sput- 
ters and  fumes  as  if  he  really  had  as  bad  a  temper 
as  these  people  credited  him  with.  All  the  wars  and 
troubles  they  had  came  from  him,  they  said,  and 
the  children  did  not  care  to  look  at  him  very  long. 
He  gives  out  a  beautiful  red  light,  while  Jupiter 
is  bluish  white,  and  the  Dog  Star  has  all  colors 
like  the  rainbow. 

"Now,"  said  the  prince,  "I  will  show  you 
the  most  important  group  in  the  sky.  It  is  the 
Pleiades,  directly  over  our  heads  at  this  time.  There 
are  seven  of  these  sisters,  and  the  pale,  dim  one  is 
the  center  of  the  whole  system  of  stars  because  all 
the  rest  of  them  circle  around  her." 


50  THE    STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

Then  he  explained  to  them  how  each  star  and 
planet,  as  well  as  the  earth,  turns  over  and  over  of 
its  own  accord,  besides  going  around  the  sun  in 
a  very  wide  circle.  All  the  stars  are  wonderful 
tumblers  and  they  spin  around  just  like  tops,  and 
this  whirling  motion  was  what  made  the  prince  say 
that  they  were  having  a  ball.  When  they  twinkled 
and  sparkled,  he  said  they  were  dancing. 

As  soon  as  he  sat  down,  one  of  the  children 
got  the  Sacred  Tunkel,  and  then  some  took 
hold  of  his  hands,  others  held  on  to  his  mantle  and 
still  others  put  their  arms  around  his  neck  and 
begged  him  to  sing  for  them.  He  did  not  wish  to 
refuse  them,  but  he  did  not  know  any  song  suitable 
for  the  occasion  so  he  made  this  up  as  he  went 
along : 

Oh!  the  stars  one  and  all 
They  had  a  great  ball 

One  night  way  up  in  the  sky ; 
They  invited  the  earth 
To  join  in  their  mirth 

But  it  feared  to  go  up  so  high. 

No  fiddler  had  they 
Their  music  to  play, 

And  the  stars  were  afraid  'twould  fail ; 
But  the  man  in  the  moon 
He  whistled  a  tune 

And  the  comet  kept  time  with  his  tail. 


THE   STABS'  BALL 

They  danced  and  they  danced, 

And  they  pranced  and  they  pranced, 

Till  the  moon  said  'twas  all  he  desired, 
For  his  lips  were  so  sore 
He  could  whistle  no  more, 

And  the  comet  began  to  get  tired. 

So  they  faded  away 
In  the  dim  light  of  day 

The  moon  and  the  stars  from  the  ball. 
But,  sad  to  relate, 
Next  night  they  were  late, 

And  came  near  not  shining  at  all. 


51 


The    National   Book 

EC  A  USE  it  is  possible  for  persons 
to  do  both  good  and  evil  in  their 
lives,  and  to  think  good  and  bad 
thoughts,  the  wise  men  and  the 
Golden  Hearted  studied  how  to 
keep  these  ideas  before  the 
people  all  the  time.  In  those 
days,  the  natives  of  that  country 
had  no  books  and  no  way  of 
writing  and  it  was  necessary  to  select  some 
familiar  object  to  represent  the  meaning  of  many 
things.  Whatever  is  used  for  such  a  purpose,  is 
called  a  symbol. 

The  hippopotamus,  the  crocodile  and  the  tapir 
are  to  this  day  said  to  be  symbols  of  humanity 
because  they  have  two  natures.  They  can  live  in  the 
water  or  on  the  land,  and  search  for  food  either  in 
the  day  or  night  time.  Of  the  three  animals,  the 
wise  men  selected  the  tapir  because  it  is  a  shy,  inof- 
fensive creature,  not  much  larger  than  a  sheep  and 
lives  on  green  grasses  and  herbs.  During  the  day 
it  sleeps  quietly  in  the  water  or  on  the  bank  of  a 
stream  and  at  night  comes  on  land  to  get  food. 
When  its  coat  is  dry,  it  is  of  a  dark  brown  color, 


THE    NATIONAL   BOOK  53 

but  when  wet,  it  is  black  and  shining.  A  tapir 
looks  very  much  like  a  fat  donkey  except  that  its 
ears  are  not  so  long  and  its  nose  not  quite  so 
stumpy.  At  Nachan  the  wise  men  raised  great 
herds  of  them  as  an  example  and  illustration  of 
our  good  and  bad  self. 

The  Golden  Hearted  realized  that  he  must  do 
more  than  found  a  large  city  and  teach  the  chil- 
dren, so  he  had  a  Dark  House  built  away  under 
ground  where  he  could  store  treasures  and  all  the 
records  of  his  journey.  This  was  a  secret  passage- 
way, and  in  its  halls  and  labyrinths  he  had  quanti- 
ties of  statuary  and  pottery  put  for  safe  keeping. 
While  this  was  being  done,  he  wrote  a  book  called 
in  his  language  "The  Popol  Vuh"  but  we  would 
say  it  is  a  national  book  because  it  tells  all  about 
the  beginning  of  the  world  and  is  divided  into 
four  parts.  It  is  a  most  singular  story,  and  has 
been  translated  so  we  can  read  it  for  ourselves.  It 
is  said  to  be  the  oldest  book  in  America,  and  the 
Golden  Hearted  kept  an  order  of  wise  men  in  the 
Dark  House  underground  to  guard  it  from  one 
generation  to  another. 

The    Popul    Vuh 

This  is  the  beginning  of  the  history  of  things 
which  came  to  pass  long  ago ;  of  the  division  of  the 
earth,  the  property  of  all;  its  origin  and  its  foun- 
dation, as  well  as  the  narrative  of  our  life  in  the 
land  of  shadows,  and  of  how  we  saw  the  light.  It 


54  THE    STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

is  the  first  book  written  in  the  olden  times,  but  its 
view  is  hidden  from  him  who  sees  and  thinks. 

Behold  the  first  word  and  the  first  discourse. 
There  was  as  yet  no  man,  nor  any  animal,  nor 
bird,  nor  fish,  nor  crawfish,  nor  any  pit,  nor  any 
ravine,  nor  green  herb,  nor  any  tree. 

Nothing  was  but  the  firmament. 

The  face  of  the  earth  had  not  yet  appeared— 
only  the  peaceful  sea  and  all  the  space  of  heaven. 
There  was  nothing  yet  joined  together,  nothing 
that  clung  to  anything  else;  nothing  that  balanced 
itself,  that  made  the  least  rustling,  that  made  a 
sound  in  the  heaven.  There  was  nothing  that  stood 
up;  nothing  but  silence  and  darkness  and  night 
time. 

Alone  were  those  that  engender,  those  that 
give  being ;  they  were  upon  the  waters  like  a  grow- 
ing light.  They  consulted  together  and  meditated ; 
they  mingled  their  words  and  their  opinions. 

' '  Earth ! ' '  they  said,  and  on  the  instant  it  was 
formed ;  like  a  cloud  of  fog  was  its  beginning. 

Then  the  mountains  rose  over  the  water  like 
great  lobsters.  In  an  instant  the  mountains  and 
plains  were  visible  and  the  cypress  and  the  pine 
trees  appeared. 

The  Heart  of  Heaven  cried  out  and  said: 

"Blessed  be  thy  coming.  Our  work  and  our 
labor  has  accomplished  its  end." 

The  earth  and  its  vegetation  having  appeared, 
it  was  peopled  with  the  various  forms  of  animal 
life.  And  the  makers  said  to  the  animals,  "Speak 


BEHOLD     THE     FIRST    WORD  See  opposite  page 


56  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

now  our  name.  Honor  Him  who  begets  and  Him 
who  gives  being.  Speak,  call  on  us,  salute  us." 

But  the  animals  could  not  answer.  They 
could  only  cluck  and  croak,  each  murmuring  after 
its  kind  in  a  different  manner. 

This  displeased  the  creators,  and  they  said 
to  the  animals: 

"Inasmuch  as  ye  cannot  praise  us,  neither 
call  upon  our  names,  your  flesh  shall  be  humiliated. 
It  shall  be  broken  with  teeth.  Ye  shall  be  killed 
and  eaten. ' ' 

The  first  man  was  made  of  clay,  but  he  was 
watery,  had  no  strength  and  could  not  turn  his 
head.  His  face  looked  one  way  all  the  time.  He 
was  given  a  language,  but  he  had  no  intelligence, 
so  he  was  consumed  in  water. 

"Let  us  make  an  intelligent  being  who  shall 
adore  and  invoke  us,"  said  the  Thunderbolt  and 
the  Lightning  Flash. 

It  was  decided  that  a  man  should  be  made 
of  wood  and  a  woman  of  a  kind  of  pith.  They  were 
made  but  the  result  was  in  no  wise  satisfactory. 
They  moved  about  perfectly  well  it  is  true;  they 
increased  and  multiplied  and  peopled  the  world 
with  little  wooden  manikins  like  themselves,  but 
the  heart  and  intelligence  were  wanting.  They  had 
no  memory  of  their  Maker;  they  lived  like  the 
beasts  and  forgot'  the  Heart  of  Heaven.  They  had 
neither  blood  nor  substance,  nor  moisture  nor  fat. 
Their  cheeks  were  shriveled;  their  feet  and  hands 
dried  up. 


THE    NATIONAL   BOOK  57 

Then  was  the  Heart  of  Heaven  very  wroth, 
and  he  sent  ruin  and  destruction  upon  these 
ingrates.  He  rained  upon  them  night  and  day  with 
a  thick  resin  and  the  earth  was  all  dark. 

The  men  went  mad  with  terror.  They  tried 
to  mount  up  on  the  roofs,  but  the  houses  fell  with 
them.  They  tried  to  climb  the  trees,  but  the  trees 
shook  them  from  their  branches.  They  tried  to 
hide  in  the  caves  and  dens  of  the  earth,  but  these 
closed  against  them. 

Then  their  heads  were  cut  off,  and  their  bones 
broken  and  bruised,  and  their  eyes  picked  out  by 
the  birds,  and  their  flesh  eaten  by  wild  beasts. 

Thus  were  they  all  devoted  to  chastisement 
and  destruction  save  only  a  few  who  were  pre- 
served as  memorials  of  the  wooden  men.  These 
now  exist  in  the  forests  as  little  apes. 

In  the  night  the  gods  counseled  together  again. 
"Of  what  shall  we  make  man!"  they  said. 

Then  the  Creator  made  four  perfect  men  out 
of  white  and  yellow  corn.  The  name  of  the  first 
one  was  The  Tiger  With  the  Sweet  Smile,  the  sec- 
ond one  was  called  The  Tiger  of  the  Night,  the 
third  one  was  The  Distinguished  Name,  and  the 
fourth  was  The  Tiger  of  the  Moon.  They  had 
neither  father  nor  mother,  but  their  coming  into 
existence  was  a  miracle  wrought  by  the  special 
intervention  of  Him  who  is  pre-eminently  the 
Creator. 

At  last  were  there  found  men  worthy  of  their 
origin  and  their  destiny.  Verily  the  gods  looked 


58  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

on  beings  who  could  see  with  their  eyes  and  handle 
with  their  hands  and  understand  with  their  hearts. 
Grand  of  countenance  and  broad  of  limb,  the  four 
sires  of  our  race  stood  up  under  the  white  rays  of 
the  morning  star. 

Their  great,  clear  eyes  swept  rapidly  over  all. 
They  saw  the  woods,  the  rocks,  the  lakes  and  the 
sea ;  the  mountains  and  the  valleys,  and  they  gazed 
up  into  heaven  not  knowing  what  they  had  come  so 
far  to  do.  Their  hearts  were  filled  with  love,  obe- 
dience and  fear.  Lifting  up  their  eyes,  they  returned 
thanks  saying: 

"Hail!  0  Creator,  Thou  that  lovest  and 
understandest  us !  We  offer  up  our  thanks.  We 
have  been  created — abandon  us  not,  forsake  us  not! 
Give  us  descendants  and  a  posterity  as  long  as  the 
light  endures.  Give  us  to  walk  always  in  an  open 
wood  in  a  path  without  snares;  to  lead  quiet  lives 
free  of  all  reproach.'7 

But  the  Gods  were  not  wholly  pleased  with 
this  thing.  Heaven,  they  thought,  had  overshot  its 
mark.  These  men  were  too  perfect;  knew,  under- 
stood and  saw  too  much. 

"What  shall  we  do  with  man  now?"  they  said. 
"This  that  we  see  is  not  good.  Let  us  contract 
man's  sight  so  he  may  see  only  a  little  of  the  sur- 
face of  the  earth  and  be  content." 

Thereupon,  the  Heart  of  Heaven  breathed  a 
cloud  over  the  pupils  of  the  eyes  of  the  men,  and 
a  veil  came  over  each  eye  as  when  one  breathes  on 
the  face  of  a  mirror.  Thus  was  the  globe  of  the 


THE    NATIONAL   BOOK  59 

eye  darkened,  nor  was  that  which  was  far  off  clear 
to  it  any  more. 

Then  they  fell  asleep  and  when  they  woke 
up,  the  gods  had  brought  each  one  of  them  a  wife. 
They  lived  tranquilly  together  for  a  long  time 
waiting  for  the  rising  of  the  sun,  because  they  had 
nothing  but  the  morning  star  for  a  light. 

But  no  sun  came,  and  the  four  men  and  their 
families  grew  uneasy. 

"We  have  no  one  to  watch  over  us,  no  one  to 
guard  our  symbols, "  they  said.  So  they  all  set 
out  for  the  Seven  Caves. 

Poor  wanderers.  They  had  a  cruel  way  to  go, 
many  forests  to  penetrate,  many  high  mountains 
to  climb,  and  a  long  passage  to  make  through  the 
sea.  Much  hail  and  cold  rain  fell  on  their  heads, 
and  when  their  fires  all  went  out  they  suffered  from 
hunger  as  well  as  cold. 

At  last  they  came  to  a  mountain  and  here  they 
rested.  While  there  they  were  told  that  the  sun 
was  coming  very  soon.  Then  they  shook  their 
incense  pans  and  danced  for  very  gladness.  As  the 
sun  commenced  to  advance,  the  animals,  great  and 
small,  were  filled  with  delight.  They  raised  them- 
selves to  the  surface  of  the  waters,  they  fluttered 
in  the  ravines,  and  gathering  at  the  edge  of  the 
mountains,  turned  their  heads  together  toward  that 
part  from  which  the  sun  came. 

The  lion  and  the  tiger  roared,  and  the  first 
bird  that  sang  was  the  Quetzal.  All  the  animals 
were  beside  themselves  at  the  sight.  The  eagle  and 


60  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

the  kite  beat  their  wings,  and  the  men  prostrated 
themselves  on  the  ground. 

The  sun  and  the  moon  and  the  stars  were  all 
established.  Yet  was  not  the  sun  the  same  as  now. 
His  heat  wanted  force,  and  he  was  but  as  a  reflec- 
tion in  a  mirror.  Nevertheless  he  dried  up  and 
warmed  the  surface  of  the  earth  and  answered 
many  good  ends. 

There  was  another  wonder  when  the  sun  rose. 
The  tribal  gods  who  had  punished  these  poor  peo- 
ple so  were  turned  into  stone.  And  so  were  all 
the  mammoth  lions,  tigers,  vipers,  and  other  fierce 
and  dangerous  animals. 


Manco-Capac,  the  Powerful   One 

T  is  time  for  us  to  go  away  from 
this  place,"  said  the  wise  men  to 
the  Golden  Hearted  one  day  when 
they  were  finishing  the  Dark  House, 
where  they  were  going  to  leave  the 
National  Book. 

' i  Why  do  you  think  so  ? "  asked 
the  prince,  laying  down  an  axe  made  of  copper  and 
tin  which  he  was  sharpening  for  one  of  the 
workmen. 

"  Because  we  have  yet  to  find  the  spot  where 
the  gold  wedge  your  father,  the  king,  gave  you  will 
sink  into  the  earth  of  its  own  accord." 

' '  That  is  to  be  in  the  Place  of  Gold,  and  among 
the  Children  of  the  Sun." 

"Yes;  and  we  are  not  far  from  the  country 
known  as  the  "Four  Quarters  of  the  World"  where 
they  live.  We  must  go  to  them  at  once,  and  there 
we  will  build  Cuzco,  and  make  it  the  navel  or  center 
of  all  their  possessions.  Under  the  name  of  Manco- 
Capac,  the  powerful  one,  you  will  be  the  first  Inca 
or  ruler,  and  your  banner  will  be  a  rainbow,  to 
show  that  you  serve  the  Children  of  the  Sun." 

The  Golden  Hearted  did  not  wish  to  become 
a  ruler  but  he  did  not  see  how  he  could  refuse  obe- 
dience to  the  faithful  old  wise  men,  so  he  said: 
' i  I  will  go  with  you  and  do  as  you  say,  but  tell 


62  THE    STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

me  how  you  intend  to  build  this  wonderful  city  of 
Cuzco?" 

"You  must  not  feel  that  we  compel  you  to 
go, "  said  the  wise  men,  looking  ready  to  cry, 
because  they  thought  the  young  prince  was  not 
pleased  with  them.  "It  was  your  father's  com- 
mand, and  our  promise  to  him. ' ' 

"I  know  that,"  said  the  prince  impatiently, 
*  *  but  how  are  you  going  to  make  Cuzco  the  center 
of  everything  ? ' ' 

' '  By  building  the  streets  on  the  four  points  of 
the  compass,  and  by  connecting  it  with  royal  road- 
ways to  the  four  corners  of  the  kingdom.  We  shall 
have  no  trouble  doing  so,  for  our  reports  say  that 
the  natives  are  mild  and  gentle,  and  that  there  are 
stones  in  that  country  as  broad  and  long  as  a 
room. ' ' 

When  he  and  the  wise  men  started  to  make 
the  journey  over  the  mountains,  they  put  all  of 
their  belongings  on  the  backs  of  the  llamas— a  kind 
of  little  camel  not  much  larger  than  a  sheep  and 
which  is  used  in  that  country  to-day  for  pack 
animals,  instead  of  burros  or  mules.  They  put  the 
load  on  the  llama's  back  without  any  girt  or  pack 
saddle,  and  its  long,  bushy  wool  holds  all  the  things 
in  place.  It  has  a  sharp-pointed,  horny  toe  like  a 
hook,  which  it  fastens  in  the  steep  rocks,  and  then 
it  can  climb  over  rough  places  without  much 
trouble.  When  a  llama  gets  angry  he  does  not 
spit  like  an  ordinary  camel,  but  lies  down  like  a 
stubborn  mule.  No  matter  what  you  do  to  him,  he 


MANCO-CAPAC,  THE  POWERFUL  ONE       63 

will  not  budge  an  inch,  and  then  the  load  has  to  be 
taken  off,  and  he  must  be  coaxed  and  fed  before  he 
will  go  any  farther. 

One  day  the  wise  men  and  the  Golden  Hearted 
came  to  a  wide  rocky  chasm  in  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain hundreds  of  feet  deep,  having  a  swift-running 
river  at  the  bottom.  There  were  so  many  sharp  rocks 
sticking  up  and  the  water  dashed  over  them  so  fast 
that  it  was  all  in  a  white  foam,  and  nothing  could 
have  swam  across  it.  The  native  servants  and 
workmen  did  not  know  what  to  do. 

' '  How  are  we  to  cross  this  deep  canyon  ? ' '  they 
asked. 

"We  will  help  you  make  a  suspension 
bridge,"  said  the  wise  men. 

"But  we  have  no  tools"— they  began. 

"You  have  your  two  hands  and  some  copper 
axes  and  that  is  sufficient." 

"We  can  fell  trees  and  bring  stones,  but  there 
are  not  enough  to  span  such  a  dangerous  place," 
they  said,  still  doubtful  about  the  outcome. 

"Take  your  axes  and  cut  all  the  maguey  you 
can  find, ' '  said  the  wise  men.  ' '  Bring  it  here  and 
pile  it  up ;  then  we  will  tell  you  what  next  to  do. ' ' 

The  wise  men  and  the  Golden  Hearted  made 
some  heavy  clubs  out  of  the  hard  wood  they 
found  growing  near  by.  With  these  in  a  short  time 
they  beat  the  maguey  until  its  fibers  fell  apart 
in  coarse  strands,  which  the  sun  dried.  Then  they 
helped  the  natives  braid  it  into  heavy,  thick  ropes. 
When  they  got  enough  of  these  made,  they  wove 


64  THE    STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

them  together  into  a  stout  cable  chain,  long  enough 
to  stretch  across  the  river. 

'  *  What  shall  we  do  with  the  ends  1 ' '  asked  the 
natives.  ' '  We  cannot  tie  them  to  a  tree. ' ' 

"Certainly  not,  but  you  can  gather  big  and 
little  stones  for  us,"  answered  the  wise  men. 

With  these  they  built  immense  buttresses  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  wide  at  the  bottom  and  nar- 
row at  the  top  so  they  would  not  tumble  down  nor 
slip  into  the  waters.  Of  course  they  had  to  leave 
holes  in  the  sides  to  fasten  the  cables  into.  It  took 
several  strands  to  make  the  bridge  wide  enough, 


MANGO-CAP  AC,  THE  POWERFUL  ONE       65 

and  even  then  the  natives  were  afraid  they  would 
fall  into  the  water. 

' '  We  need  a  railing  at  each  side, ' '  they  said. 

'  *  Very  well ;  make  one  out  of  the  ropes, ' '  said 
the  wise  men.  When  this  was  done  the  natives 
were  still  unwilling  to  try  to  go  across. 

"We  cannot  take  a  single  step.  Our  feet  get 
tangled  in  the  meshes  of  the  cable. ' ' 

* '  Overcome  this  by  making  some  rough  boards 
and  laying  them  all  the  way  over. " 

It  was  indeed  a  novel  suspension  bridge,  for 
when  the  planks  were  put  onto  the  cable  it  sagged 
in  the  middle  and  swayed  forth  and  back  in  the 
wind  like  a  swing.  Imagine  how  frightened  the 
natives  must  have  been  at  first,  but  in  that  moun- 
tainous country  they  never  build  any  other  kind  of 
bridges  and  they  use  them  now  all  of  the  time. 

"In  this  open  stretch  of  valley  and  plain  we 
will  plant  sweet-smelling  trees  and  shrubs  by  the 
roadside  so  that  travelers  may  be  refreshed  by  the 
shade  and  enjoy  the  perfume,  and  we  will  also 
teach  the  Children  of  the  Sun  to  build  tambos  or 
post  houses,"  said  the  Golden  Hearted,  when  once 
they  were  over  the  mountains.  This  they  did  at 
every  point  where  they  stopped  to  rest,  and  at 
each  one  they  left  a  band  of  chasquis,  or  runners 
in  charge.  The  word  chasqui  means  "one  who 
makes  an  exchange,"  and  these  men  and  boys  not 
only  carried  the  news  like  our  postmen  and  mes- 
sengers, but  they  traded  news  with  each  other  and 
with  every  one  else  they  met.  Before  allowing 
any  of  the  runners  to  go  out  the  Golden  Hearted 


66      THE  STORIES  OF  EL  DORADO 

said:  "I  will  make  you  keepers  of  the  Quippos,  or 
knotted  cords.  The  red  ones  mean  war,  or  other 
bad  news,  while  the  white  ones  are  for  peace  and 
prosperity.  In  the  springtime  if  the  crops  are  good, 
you  must  carry  bands  of  green  cords.  If  you  wish 
to  spread  the  reports  of  gold  and  silver  use  that 
kind  of  quippo,  so  that  the  people  seeing  you  far 
off  may  know  the  import  of  your  message.  Count 
them  always  by  tens  and  twenties,  and  use  dili- 
gence and  care  to  be  accurate  and  quick  in  your 
calculations. " 

This  was  a  queer  kind  of  arithmetic  but  it  was 
astonishing  how  soon  the  boys  learned  it.  In  after 
years  there  were  bands  of  strolling  singers  and 
poets  who  went  about  the  country,  and  they  used 
the  quippos  to  recall  the  things  they  wanted  to 
remember,  such  as  the  brave  deeds  of  their 
ancestors  and  the  names  of  their  heroes.  So  long  as 
the  inhabitants  of  this  country  were  called  Chil- 
dren of  the  Sun,  they  had  no  other  books  and  they 
trained  young  men  to  be  experts  in  reading  them. 
The  language  of  the  Quippos  is  said  to  be  very 
correct  and  elegant. 

The  first  thing  the  Golden  Hearted  did  when 
he  arrived  at  the  end  of  his  journey  was  to  divide 
the  land  into  three  parts — one  for  the  sun,  one  for 
the  king  and  one  for  the  people.  Then  he 
appointed  beautiful  young  girls  to  be  Virgins  of 
the  Sun  and  placed  them  in  charge  of  elderly 
women,  who  taught  them  how  to  spin  and  weave  the 
fine  hair  of  the  vicuna  into  hangings  for  the  Place 


MANGO-CAP  AC,  THE  POWERFUL  ONE       67 

of  Gold  which  the  wise  men  had  already  commenced 
to  build.  The  girls  knew  how  to  embroider  beau- 
tifully, and  it  was  a  part  of  their  duty  to  keep  the 
sacred  fires  always  burning  on  the  altar.  The 
Golden  Hearted  lighted  the  fire  himself,  and  it 
was  kept  burning  night  and  day  for  hundreds  of 
years.  In  the  Houses  of  the  Virgins  no  man,  not 
even  the  king,  could  go,  and  if  any  one  ever  did,  the 
people  not  only  killed  him  but  tore  down  his  house. 
When  they  did  anything  of  this  kind  they  called 
it  "sowing  the  ground  with  stones,"  and  ever 
afterward  his  family  and  friends  wore  mourning 
on  account  of  the  terrible  disgrace. 

The  Place  of  Gold  was  a  temple  in  the  center 
of  Cuzco  so  named  because  the  gold  wedge  sunk 
immediately  into  the  ground  when  it  was  tried,  and 
the  wise  men  said  it  was  appropriate  because  "gold 
was  the  tears  wept  by  the  sun."  It  is  said  that  no 
building  in  the  world  was  ever  more  beautiful  than 
this  wonderful  temple.  The  wise  men  and  the 
Golden  Hearted  did  the  best  work  they  knew  how, 
and  there  was  plenty  of  gold  and  precious  stones 
in  the  mountains,  so  they  could  use  as  much  as  they 
liked.  In  front  of  the  eastern  entrance  was  a  huge 
sunburst  made  like  a  human  face,  with  rays  of 
light  starting  out  in  every  direction.  Each  ray  was 
thickly  set  with  emeralds,  and  when  the  sun  rose 
in  the  morning,  the  reflection  of  the  shining  gold 
and  the  sparkle  of  the  emeralds  lighted  up  the 
whole  temple.  Besides  this  they  had  burnished 
plates  and  cornices  -and  vases  and  animals  and 


68  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

flowers  of  gold  all  around  the  walls,  and  the  water 
urns  and  incense  pans  were  also  of  the  bright  yel- 
low metal. 

"  We  will  celebrate  a  great  festival  of  Eami; 
the  renewal  time,  when  the  sun  is  coaxing  the  earth 
back  to  fertility;  when  the  buds  and  leaves  are 
putting  forth,  and  the  birds  are  beginning  to  nest, ' ' 
said  the  Golden  Hearted,  as  soon  as  the  temple 
was  completed. 

' '  Show  the  Children  of  the  Sun  that  we  honor 
the  soil  by  turning  the  first  sod  yourself, ' '  said  the 
wise  men,  when  told  about  the  coming  celebration. 

"I  will,"  said  the  prince,  who  was  now  called 
Manco-Capac,  and  was  the  ruler  of  the  kingdom, 
"and  the  Virgins  of  the  Sun  shall  drop  the  seeds. 
Let  every  one  come  in  holiday  clothes  and  with 
songs  and  dancing  and  feasting  we  will  commem- 
orate the  day." 

The  next  morning  all  the  people  came  together 
to  watch  the  sun  rise.  The  Virgins  were  dressed 
in  white  with  wreaths  of  flowers  on  their  heads 
and  every  one  wore  ornaments  and  jewels  and  was 
as  blithe  and  gay  as  if  he  were  going  to  a  picnic. 

Just  as  the  sun  peeped  up  over  the  edge  of  the 
horizon  and  smiled  "good  morning"  to  them,  the 
Golden  Hearted  poured  a  libation  on  the  ground 
from  a  golden  goblet,  and  the  people  all  shouted 
* '  Haille !  Haille ! ' '  meaning  triumph.  The  prince, 
the  wise  men  and  everybody  faced  the  risen  sun 
with  bared  heads  and  bowed  three  times.  Then  the 
prince  said: 


THE     PEOPLE    SHOUTED     HAILLE       HAILLE 


See  opposite  page 


70  THE    STORIES   OP   EL  DORADO 

* '  Many  think  that  the  Sun  is  the  Maker  of  all 
things.  But  he  who  makes  should  abide  by  what 
he  has  done.  Now  many  things  happen  when  the 
sun  is  absent ;  therefore  he  cannot  be  the  universal 
creator.  And  that  he  is  alive  at  all  is  doubtful  for 
his  trips  do  not  tire  him.  Were  he  a  living  thing 
he  would  grow  weary  like  ourselves.  Were  he  free 
he  would  visit  other  parts  of  the  heavens.  He  is 
a  tethered  beast  who  makes  a  daily  round  under  the 
eye  of  the  Master.  He  is  like  an  arrow  which  must 
go  whither  it  is  sent;  not  whither  it  wishes.  I  tell 
you  that  he,  our  father  and  master,  the  Sun,  must 
have  a  lord  more  powerful  than  himself  who  con- 
strains him  to  his  daily  circuit  without  pause  or 
rest." 

The  Golden  Hearted  spoke  like  this  because 
he  did  not  wish  the  Children  of  the  Sun  to  believe 
it  was  really  their  father  or  God  either. 

All  the  assemblage  took  off  their  sandals  and 
went  into  the  Place  of  Gold  and  prayed ;  then  came 
out  to  the  court  yard  and  offered  up  sacrifice  of 
perfumes,  fruits  and  flowers.  When  this  was  done 
they  hurried  to  the  fields  and  after  the  Golden 
Hearted  turned  the  first  sod  every  one  else  began 
to  Wprk.  They  had  no  plows,  and  those  who  did  not 
break  the  ground  with  a  dull  saber,  dropped  seeds 
all  day  long.  As  the  sun  went  down  they  laid  aside 
their  toil,  and  marched  home  shouting  and  sing- 
ing, because  now  they  were  going  to  have  a  feast, 
with  bonfires  and  dancing  as  late  into  the  night  as 
they  wished. 


Bochica  and  the  Zipa 


the    Cinnamon    country    not    far 
from  Cuzco  lived  the  Muscas,  a 
rich    and    powerful    nation    who 
were  less  civilized  than  the  Chil- 
dren of  the  Sun  and  were  so  quarrel- 
some   that    they    constantly    disputed 
among  themselves.     Finally  the  Zipa, 
or  king,  died  and  then  there  was  great 
danger  of  war  breaking  out  between 
the  different  factions  as  to  who  should 
be  the  new  ruler. 

At  last  the  oldest  son  of  the  dead 
Zipa  came  to  Cuzco  to  ask  the  Golden 
Hearted  to  decide  who  should  inherit  the  kingdom. 
1  i  This  is  a  matter  of  grave  moment, ' '  said  he, 
4 'and  I  must  warn  you  that  my  time  of  ruling  the 
Children  of  the  Sun  is  near  an  end.    Soon  must  I 
go  to  build  the  temple  of  Guatavita,  the  Good  Life, 
and  then  must  I  leave  this  part  of  the  world  for 
another  clime  where  much  work  awaits  me. ' ' 


72  THE   STORIES   OE   EL  DOKADO 

"Come  to  us  and  build  the  temple  of  Good 
Life,  and  I  promise  you  that  both  I  and  my  brave 
Muscas  shall  be  the  guardians  of  your  teachings. 
You  shall  be  a  demi-god  among  us. ' ' 

"I  have  no  wish  to  be  anything  more  than  an 
elder  brother  to  you  and  your  people, ' '  replied  the 
Golden  Hearted.  "I  am  come  from  my  home  to 
serve  humanity  and  must  go  with  you  if  you  need 
me— not  because  you  wish  to  honor  me." 

The  son  of  the  Zipa  then  offered  him  many 
presents  of  gold,  rich  cloth,  and  precious  stones,  but 
the  Golden  Hearted  refused  to  accept  any  of  them. 
Finally  the  young  man  said: 

"I  am  greatly  disappointed,  good  prince,  and 
have  only  this  piece  of  bark  and  a  strange  kind  of 
fruit  to  offer  you.  The  bark  is  royal  in  my  country 
because  it  cures  the  hated  fever  and  is  worthy  your 
best  confidence.  As  to  the  fruit,  taste  it  for  your- 
self." 

To  his  surprise  the  Golden  Hearted  and  the 
wise  men  were  much  pleased  with  the  bark  which 
we  know  to-day  as  Peruvian  and  from  which 
quinine  is  made ,  and  the  pineapple  tastes  as 
sweet  to  us  as  it  did  to  the  Golden  Hearted. 

The  son  of  the  Zipa  and  his  nobles  conducted 
the  wise  men  and  the  Golden  Hearted  over  one 
elevated  table-land  after  another  until  they  came  to 
one  of  the  highest  lakes  in  the  world,  where  people 
can  live,  and  its  name  is  Gautavita. 

"These  terraced  mountain  sides  show  that 
your  example  has  been  well  profited  by  the  Chil- 


BOCHICA  AXD  THE   ZtPA  73 

dren  of  the  Sun, ' '  said  the  son  of  the  Zipa,  as  they 
trudged  along  the  royal  roadway  leading  from 
Cuzco  to  the  cinnamon  country.  "The  instruction 
of  the  wise  men  in  building  canals  and  aqueducts 
has  turned  this  into  a  garden  spot  even  though 
nature  intended  it  to  be  barren.7' 

The  Golden  Hearted  thought  this  would  be 
a  good  opportunity  to  let  his  new  friend  know  that 
he  did  not  approve  of  war,  and  that  the  adherents 
of  the  Good  Law,  must  not  fight  among  themselves, 
so  he  said  gently : 

"All  that  you  see  before  you  is  the  working 
out  of  a  fixed  principle.  Universal  kindness  is  the 
secret  of  our  success.  Treat  the  earth  gently  and 
with  consideration  and  she  blesses  you  seven  fold. 
Dig  into  her  bosom  and  she  yields  her  choicest 
treasures,  and  the  beasts  and  birds  respond  to  your 
affectionate  touch.  The  heart  of  the  man  is  the  same, 
my  friend.  The  obedience  and  allegiance  of  your 
subjects  must  come  from  the  heart.  If  when  I  go 
among  them  they  tell  me  they  wish  you  to  be  their 
Zipa  then  will  I  go  to  your  opponent  and  persuade 
him  to  relinquish  his  claim  in  your  favor." 

"And  if  he  does  not  consent—" 

"Then  must  you  yield  to  him  peaceably.  I 
will  not  allow  any  blood  shed  on  either  side." 

The  son  of  the  Zipa  knew  by  the  firm  tone  of 
the  Golden  Hearted  that  he  meant  what  he  said 
and  his  face  turned  a  bright  red,  because  he 
thought  his  own  selfish  purpose  was  known  to  his 
guest.  Down  in  his  heart  he  was  planning  to  go 


74  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

into  the  capital  city  with  a  grand  flourish  and  pre- 
tend that  the  Children  of  the  Sun  had  sent  their 
ruler  and  wise  men  to  help  him  capture  the  throne. 
Now  he  knew  very  well  he  would  not  dare  do 
anything  of  the  kind. 

"But  you  do  not  know  my  people,  good 
prince/7  he  said.  "They  will  never  obey  a  Zipa 
they  do  not  fear." 

"I  am  not  familiar  with  the  faces  of  your 
subjects,  but  I  know  the  heart  of  all  mankind,  and 
whether  he  be  white  or  black,  young  or  old,  the 
child  of  fortune  or  the  opposite,  he  is  amenable  to 
the  law  of  love.  Win  his  affection  and  he  will  serve 
you  as  faithfully  and  obediently  as  a  dog. ' ' 

"I  am  afraid  my  turbulent  warriors  would 
not  respect  such  a  policy,"  replied  the  son  of  the 
Zipa,  shaking  his  head. 

"Remember  in  dealing  with  either  man  or 
animal  that  fear  degrades  while  love  ennobles." 

By  this  time  they  were  coming  in  sight  of  the 
calm  peaceful  waters  of  the  lake  stretched  out  like 
a  sheet  of  glass  before  them. 

"Water,"  said  the  Golden  Hearted,  "is  like 
a  pure  mind— limpid  and  clear.  It  permits  us  to 
look  into  its  depths  for  hidden  treasures,  or  to  see 
our  own  image  reflected  back  from  its  surface.  Let 
your  heart  and  mind  be  such  a  mirror,  and  trust 
your  people  to  make  the  right  selection. ' ' 

With  this  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  shoulder 
of  his  young  companion  and  as  their  eyes  met,  the 
son  of  the  Zipa  felt  certain  that  he  had  a  loyal  and 


BOCHICA   AND   THE   ZIPA  75 

disinterested  friend  who  would  help  him  in  the 
right  way. 

The  next  morning  the  prince  and  the  wise 
men  called  the  nobles  and  warriors  together,  and 
listened  patiently  to  all  they  had  to  say  for  and 
against  the  two  candidates.  As  he  came  into  the 
audience  chamber  the  strange  one  scowled  and 
frowned  at  the  visitors,  but  to  his  surprise  the 
Golden  Hearted  took  his  hand  and  said: 

* '  We  have  made  a  long,  wearisome  journey,  my 
brother,  in  order  to  serve  your  own  and  your 
state's  best  interest.  Speak  freely  that  we  may  be 
able  to  judge  fairly  between  the  two." 

"There  is  nothing  to  tell  that  my  warriors  do 
not  already  know,"  was  the  curt  reply.  "I  am 
able  to  crush  opposition  and  to  command  respect 
and  obedience.  I  do  not  need  your  assistance,  sir. ' ' 

For  a  moment  there  was  a  look  of  pain  on  the 
face  of  the  Golden  Hearted.  Then  he  said  gently: 

"You,  more  than  any  one  else  need  help, 
because  you  are  unable  to  govern  yourself  much 
less  a  rich  and  prosperous  nation." 

When  it  became  known  that  the  representa- 
tives of  the  Children  of  the  Sun  would  not  compel 
the  people  to  accept  a  Zipa  they  did  not  like,  they 
came  out  of  their  houses  where  they  had  been  hid- 
den all  day  for  fear  of  violence,  and  marched  up 
and  down  the  streets  playing  on  shell  trumpets, 
gongs  and  kettle  drums,  and  shouting  the  name  of 
the  oldest  son  of  the  Zipa  who  was  in  due  time 
crowned  as  the  rightful  heir  to  the  throne. 


76  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

His  first  official  act  was  to  pierce  the  upper 
part  of  the  ear  of  his  subjects  and  put  in  gold 
wheels  of  fine  filigree  work,  as  large  around  as  an 
orange.  As  he  did  so  he  said  to  each  one : 

' '  Swear  by  Him  who  gives  and  sustains  life  in 
the  Universe,  that  you  will  faithfully  keep  the 
Good  Law  brought  to  us  from  the  sea,  by  Bochica, 
our  deliverer." 

This  was  the  name  the  Zipa  gave  the  Golden 
Hearted,  and  as  each  man  passed  by  him  he  gave 
them  a  little  cake  made  of  corn  meal,  and 
continued : 

"To-morrow  our  good  friends  leave  us  for 
many  days  to  come,  but  Bochica  will  return  again, 
and  to  show  him  that  we  will  do  his  bidding  will- 
ingly let  us  take  balsas  or  rafts  with  sails  and  go 
out  on  the  lake  where  he  may  see  the  intent  of  our 
minds  reflected  in  the  water.  Put  wreaths  of  many 
colored  flowers  on  the  balsas,  and  carry  with  you 
gold  and  emeralds  which  we  will  cast  into  the  lake 
in  token  of  our  pledge  to  him. ' ' 

For  hundreds  of  years  afterwards,  the  Mucas 
and  their  descendants  kept  this  holiday  as  an 
anniversary  of  the  departure  of  the  prince  and  the 
wise  men.  They  knew  that  he  was  called  the 
Golden  Hearted  in  the  Happy  Island,  and  every 
year  they  selected  a  young  priest  from  the  temple 
of  Gautavita,  to  impersonate  him.  After  his  bath 
the  priest  smeared  himself  all  over  with  a  fragrant 
oil,  and  then  his  attendants  blew  gold  dust  through 
reeds  onto  his  body  until  he  looked  like  a  solid 


BOCH1CA  AND  THE   ZIPA 


77 


statue.  They  put  him  in  the  center  of  the  flower- 
laden  raft,  and  with  chants  and  hymns  rowed  out 
on  the  lake  and  threw  emeralds  and  gold  dust  into 
it.  The  young  men  wore  white  shirts  with  a  red 
cross  on  the  breast,  and  tied  a  red  sash  around 
their  waists.  On  their  heads  were  crowns  of  flow- 
ers and  evergreen  leaves  to  show  that  their  virtues 
would  continue  as  long  as  they  lived,  and  that  they 
were  followers  of  the  teachings  of  the  Golden 
Hearted.  They  were  always  hoping  and  praying 
for  his  return. 

We  shall  hear  more  of  this  ceremony  and  what 
came  of  it  when  we  read  the  story  of  the  Gilded 
Man. 


Song  of  Hiawatha 

who  love  the  haunts  of  nature, 
Love  the  sunshine  of  the  meadow, 
Love  the  shadow  of  the  forest 
Love  the  wind  among  the  branches, 
And  the  rain-shower  and  the  snow-storm 
And  the  rushing  of  great  rivers 
Through  their  palisades  of  pine  trees, 
And  the  thunder  in  the  mountains 
Whose  innumerable  echoes 
Flap  like  eagles  in  their  eyries; 
Listen  to  these  wild  traditions, 
To  this  song  of  Hiawatha ! 

Ye  who  love  a  nation's  legends, 
Love  the  ballads  of  a  people, 
That  like  voices  from  a  far  off 
Call  to  us  to  pause  and  listen, 
Speak  in  tones  so  plain  and  child-like, 
Scarcely  can  the  ear  distinguish 
Whether  they  are  sung  or  spoken— 
Listen  to  this  Indian  Legend, 
To  this  song  of  Hiawatha! 


SONG   OF   HIAWATHA  79 

Ye  whose  hearts  are  fresh  and  simple, 
Who  have  faith  in  God  and  nature, 
Who  believe  that  in  all  ages 
Every  human  heart  is  human, 
That  in  even  savage  bosoms 
There  are  longings,  yearnings,  strivings 
For  the  good  they  comprehend  not 
That  the  feeble  hands  and  helpless, 
Groping  blindly  in  the  darkness, 
Touch  God 's  right  hand  in  the  darkness 
And  are  lifted  up  and  strengthened 
Listen  to  this  simple  story 
To  this  song  of  Hiawatha! 

Ye,  who  sometimes  in  your  rambles 
Through  the  green  lanes  of  the  country, 
W^here  the  tangled  barbary  bushes 
Hang  their  tufts  of  crimson  berries 
Over  stone  walls  gray  with  mosses, 
Pause  by  some  neglected  grave-yard 
For  a  while  to  muse,  and  ponder 
On  a  half -effaced  inscription, 
Written  with  little  skill  of  song-craft, 
Homely  phrases,  but  each  letter 
Full  of  hope  and  yet  of  heart-break, 
Full  of  all  the  tender  pathos 
Of  the  Here  and  the  Hereafter— 
Stay  and  read  this  rude  inscription, 
Read  this  song  of  Hiawatha! 

—Henry  W.  Longfellow. 


Michabo, 
the  Great  White  Hare 


NLESS  you  know  what  river 
was  called  the  "Father  of 
Waters"  it  will  be  a  secret  as 
to  where  the  Golden  Hearted 
and  the  wise  men  went  when 
they  took  leave  of  the  Zipa. 
There  are  many  quaint  stories  told 
about  this  river,  and  also  about  the 
queer  mounds  and  earthworks  built  by 
a  strange  race  of  men  who  lived  ages 
ago  in  that  part  of  our  country.  Their 
descendants  are  not  very  civilized  and 
seem  to  have  forgotten  much  that  their  ancestors 
knew  although  they  have  some  very  pretty  ideas. 
For  instance,  they  imagine  that  they  hear  voices 
in  the  growing  branches  and  whispering  leaves 
of  the  trees,  and  they  see  little  vanishing  men  in 
the  cliffs  everywhere.  They  say  that  the  Great 
Spirit  makes  the  Indian  summer  by  puffing  smoke 
out  of  his  cheeks,  from  his  great  peace  pipe. 

Before  the  Golden  Hearted  came  they  built  a 
medicine  lodge— a  kind  of  temple  facing  the  sun- 
rise, in  a  place  called  the  ' '  Moon  of  Leaves. ' '  When 
it  was  finished,  Wunzh,  a  youth  of  noble  char- 
acter and  tender  heart,  summoned  the  spirits  of  the 


MICHABO,  THE  GREAT  WHITE  HARE       81 

four  quarters  of  the  world  and  the  day  maker  to 
come  to  his  fire  and  disclose  the  hidden  things  of 
the  distance  and  future. 

No  one  can  tell  why  they  named  the  Golden 
Hearted,  "Michabo,  the  Great  White  Hare," 
unless  it  was  because  he  came  in  the  time  of  the  year 
represented  in  their  calendar  by  a  rabbit.  They 
kept  a  record  of  the  seasons  by  crude  pictures 
drawn  on  the  inside  bark  of  trees,  and  with  them 
the  months  were  called  moons. 

No  one  blames  them  for  saying  the  wise  men 
were  jossakeeds  or  prophets,  because  they  really 
did  look  peculiar  in  their  long  robes,  beards  and 
tall  black  hats,  especially  to  men  who  had  on  buf- 
falo robes  and  feather  head  dresses. 

Wunzh  and  his  tribe  received  the  Golden 
Hearted  with  solemn  faces  and  much  respect  when 
they  heard  that  he  came  from  the  Four  Quarters 
of  the  World,  which  we  know  was  the  land  of  the 
Inca,  very  far  south. 

"Welcome,  great  white  chief,"  they  said, 
"come  and  sit  by  our  council  fire.  Our  hearts  have 
long  been  weary  waiting  for  you." 

When  they  were  all  seated  Wunzh  handed  the 
Golden  Hearted  a  peace  pipe  shaped  like  a  toma- 
hawk filled  with  tobacco  and  already  lighted.  Not 
a  word  was  spoken  until  every  one  present  had 
taken  three  whiffs  out  of  the  pipe.  Then  the 
Golden  Hearted  said: 

"I  come  to  speak  for  my  brothers,  the  fish, 
the  animals,  the  creeping  things  and  the  feathered 


82  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

messengers  of  the  air.  I  often  listen  to  their  com- 
plaints and  they  charge  you  with  slaying  them  for 
food  when  the  grains  and  fruits  would  serve  you 
better. " 

"We  are  not  disdainful  of  the  grapes  and 
berries  concealed  in  our  forests,"  replied  Wunzh, 
"but  we  have  no  grain  save  rice  and  this  must  be 
carried  on  our  backs  for  many  days.  Our  snows  and 
chill  winds  kill  the  plant  before  its  seeds  appear." 

"Whatever  the  reason  may  be  you  will  never 
do  any  real  good  in  the  world  until  you  learn  how 
to  fast  days  at  a  time  and  can  live  without  eating 
so  much  flesh.  Even  your  vaunted  skill  with  bow 
and  arrow  is  not  genuine.  I  am  a  better  shot. ' ' 

The  wise  men  were  alarmed  for  a  moment 
fearing  that  Wunzh  would  be  angry  and  that  his 
followers  would  be  offended  also.  Besides  they  had 
never  heard  the  Golden  Hearted  speak  boastfully 
before,  and  they  were  puzzled  to  know  what  would 
happen  next. 

* 1 1  am  willing  to  try  the  bow  with  my  friend, ' ' 
said  Wunzh,  with  a  flash  of  the  eye  and  a  toss  of 
the  head,  which  showed  that  he  was  vain  and  had 
an  uncertain  temper. 

"When  will  it  suit  you  to  make  the  contest," 
quietly  asked  the  Golden  Hearted,  as  he  arose  and 
turned  to  leave  the  council  fire. 

"To-morrow's  sun,"  answered  Wunzh, 
haughtily,  "and  when  it  is  so  high,"  indicating  a 
space  in  the  sky  that  would  make  it  quite  early  in 
the  morning. 


MICHABO,  THE  GREAT  WHITE  HAKE       83 

"Let  it  take  place  in  the  large  square  sur- 
rounded by  your  lodges, ' '  said  the  Golden  Hearted, 
carelessly  as  he  walked  toward  the  one  assigned  for 
his  use. 

To  the  wise  men  he  said: 

"Leave  me  for  a  little  time,  I  wish  to  be 
alone. ' ' 

They  wondered  what  he  could  mean  by  such 
language  and  such  actions.  It  was  evident  that  he 
did  not  intend  to  make  any  explanation  to  them, 
so  they  could  only  wait  to  see  what  the  outcome 
would  be. 

Once  inside  the  tent  the  Golden  Hearted  began 
to  work  on  a  plaited  disc  of  straw.  As  soon  as  it 
was  finished,  he  drew  rings  of  red,  blue,  black  and 
white  all  around  the  big  yellow  center,  and  was 
propping  it  up  to  dry  when  Wunzh  appeared  c.t 
the  door  of  the  lodge. 

"I  have  come  to  show  you  the  center  pole 
where  you  may  hang  up  the  target,  and  we  will 
then  step  off  the  distance  between  the  different 
shooting  stations,"  he  said.  "The  rule  requires 
each  of  us  to  speed  two  dozen  arrows  from  the 
nearest  point,  twice  that  many  from  the  middle 
ground,  and  seventy-two  from  the  outside  post." 

While  in  the  Happy  Island,  the  prince  had 
learned  all  about  the  use  of  the  bow  and  arrow, 
but  this  was  the  first  time  he  had  an  opportunity 
to  show  his  skill,  and  the  wise  men  were  anxious 
that  he  should  not  fail,  because  they  knew  that 


84  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

the  friends  of  Wunzh  would  not  have  much 
respect  for  him  if  he  did.  They  could  not  under- 
stand how  he  could  be  so  smiling  and  unconcerned. 

The  fame  of  Wunzh  as  a  bowman  was  known 
far  and  wide  and  the  descendants  of  the  Mound 
Builders  were  certain  he  would  win.  At  daybreak 
the  next  morning  there  was  a  solid  line  of  warriors 
around  the  ring  where  the  trial  was  to  be  made, 
and  they  were  as  motionless  and  stolid  looking  as 
if  they  had  been  carved  out  of  wood.  No  one  could 
tell  by  their  faces  what  they  were  thinking  and 
they  would  not  have  turned  their  heads  for  any- 
thing. Some  of  them  made  a  kind  of  music  on  a 
tom-tom  or  Indian  drum  and  Wunzh  and  the 
Golden  Hearted  marched  in  step  like  soldiers,  and 
smiled  and  bowed  to  everybody  as  they  came  into 
the  ring.  The  Golden  Hearted  knew  all  the  time 
that  he  was  the  doubtful  one,  and  just  for  a 
moment  he  glanced  at  the  anxious  faces  of  the  wise 
men.  Though  not  sure  in  their  hearts  they  nodded 
encouragingly  and  before  he  had  touched  a  bow 
every  eye  in  the  crowd  was  upon  him. 

The  keepers  of  the  bows  arid  arrows  were  very 
fair  minded,  and  were  careful  to  see  there  were 
no  knots  or  gnarls  or  cracks  in  the  waxy  brown 
hunting  bow  made  of  straight  grained  mulberry 
wood.  The  one  to  be  used  was  six  feet  long  and 
its  tips  were  of  polished  elk  horn,  and  there  was  a 
buckskin  handhold  in  the  center.  The  hickory 
arrows  were  as  smooth  as  glass  with  very  sharp 
saw-teeth  edges  on  the  flint  heads.  Around  the 


MICHABO,  THE  GREAT  WHITE  HARE       85 

notch  end  there  were  three  vanes  of  eagle  feathers. 

The  descendants  of  the  Mound  Builders  were 
courteous  enough  to  give  their  guest  the  first  shot. 
As  the  Golden  Hearted  pulled  a  buckskin  shield 
over  his  right  hand  he  looked  up  at  the  wise  men, 
and  his  eyes  said: 

" Trust  me!  I  shall  not  fail." 

Then  he  stooped  quickly  and  raised  the  bow 
from  the  ground  and  placed  it  against  his  knee 
cap  to  get  a  good  purchase.  With  an  upward  body 
movement  he  drew  the  long  bow  as  far  as  he  could, 
faced  the  painted  disc  target  and  let  fly.  Like  the 
arrow  that  sped  so  swiftly  that  it  caught  fire 
as  it  flew,  this  one  sang  through  the  air  and 
imbedded  itself  in  the  blue  ring  where  it  rocked  and 
shook  violently. 

1  i  The  Great  White  Hare  has  won  five  points ! ' ' 
shouted  the  tally  keepers  in  the  Judge's  corner. 

i i What  skill!"  said  one  pointing  to  the  still 
quivering  arrow.  "What  strength!"  said  another, 
while  the  wise  men  began  to  feel  very  proud  indeed. 
It  was  such  hard  work  that  the  face  of  Golden 
Hearted  was  flushed  but  he  shut  his  teeth  together 
hard,  and  was  determined  to  make  a  still  better 
effort. 

His  second  shot  sent  the  arrow  into  the  red 
ring  nearly  opposite  the  blue,  and  this  scored  him 
seven  points. 

"There  is  fine  aiming!"  said  the  judges  to 
each  other,  while  the  other  people  leaned  over  in 
their  seats  and  watched  intently. 


86  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

There  was  just  a  shadow  of  a  smile  on  the  lips 
of  the  Golden  Hearted,  as  he  made  ready  for  the 
final  shot  from  the  first  station. 

"Ping!"  and  the  third  arrow  fairly  whistled 
as  it  hit  the  exact  center  of  the  yellow  spot. 

Instantly  the  whole  crowd  were  on  their  feet, 
all  talking  at  once  and  making  so  much  noise  that 
the  tally  keepers  could  not  be  heard. 

"Five— seven— nine  are  the  points;  twenty- 
one  for  final  score, ' '  they  shouted. 

The  Golden  Hearted  flung  down  his  bow  and 
stepped  to  one  side  to  make  room  for  Wunzh.  He 
stood  wiping  the  perspiration  off  his  forehead  and 
was  pleased  because  he  saw  that  every  one  felt 
kindly  toward  him. 

"  Now  the  jossakeeds  will  learn  how  to  shoot !" 
exclaimed  the  men  who  had  backed  Wunzh. 

"He  will  never  equal  the  first  score,"  said 
others  who  were  skillful  with  a  bow  and  arrow 
themselves  and  knew  how  hard  it  was  to  make 
such  fine  shots. 

Wunzh  sent  his  first  arrow  with  a  vim  and 
energy  that  showed  he  had  been  in  constant  prac- 
tice, but  all  three  of  his  darts  sped  feebly  and 
barely  indented  the  black  ring. 

"The  jossakeeds  hold  the  first  station," 
announced  the  judges.  ' '  Move  on  to  the  next  one. ' ' 

Now  came  the  real  test  of  skill,  and  every  man 
was  interested  because  they  all  made  use  of  the 
bow  and  arrow,  in  hunting  and  in  war,  and  had  no 
other  kind  of  weapon  except  a  knife.  Hundreds 


MICHABO,  THE  GREAT  WHITE  HARE       87 

of  the   spectators    left    their   seats   and   crowded 
around  the  contestants. 

The  heavy  hunting  bow  was  laid  aside  now 
and  one  made  of  elastic  but  tough  yew  was  sub- 
stituted. The  arrows  had  finely-pointed  obsidian 
heads,  matched  and  smooth  but  sharp  as  a  needle. 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  careful  to  see  that 
the  yew  was  properly  seasoned  and  when  satisfied, 
he  placed  the  arrow  on  the  left  side  of  the  bow 
with  its  notch  set  on  the  string.  He  drew  the 
string  back  to  just  below  the  chin,  aimed  over  the 
arrow  tip  and  let  fly. 

The  spectators  were  quick  to  see  that  his  aim, 
draw,  finish  and  loose  was  perfect  even  in  speeding 
the  arrows  so  fast  they  could  scarcely  be  seen. 
When  shooting  three  at  a  time  he  drove  all  of  them 
into  the  yellow  center  within  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
of  each  other! 

The  friends  of  Wunzh  shouted  and  screamed : 

*  *  It  is  not  fair !  He  uses  too  many  arrows.  Give 
us  justice!"  until  the  judges  were  compelled  to 
order  the  warriors  to  drive  the  crowd  back  again 
with  the  points  of  their  spears. 

In  the  noise,  confusion  and  excitement 
every  one  forgot  the  birds  perched  on  a  cross  bar  at 
the  top  of  the  pole  supporting  the  target.  There 
was  a  blue  jay,  a  raven,  a  white  dove  and  a  green 
parrot.  Each  had  a  string  attached  to  one  leg.  Now 
of  course  they  remembered  and  crowded  around 
to  hear  what  the  judges  would  say. 

"Will  the  prince  of  the  jossakeeds  take  a  shot 


88  THE   STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

at  the  birds  before  being  crowned  with  the  Yew 
wreath  of  valor?" 

As  soon  as  the  Golden  Hearted  could  make 
himself  heard  he  said: 

"I  am  willing  to  comply  with  your  request, 
but  I  hope  I  shall  not  hurt  any  of  the  birds. ' ' 

"The  parrot  shall  cry  your  aim,  and  must 
remain  unharmed.  You  may  kill  the  blue  or  the 
black  bird,  but  you  must  release  the  peaceful  dove 
uninjured.  Will  you  remember  these  conditions  ? ' ' 

The  Golden  Hearted  came  within  range  and 
waited  for  a  favorable  opportunity.  By  a  sudden 
jerk  of  the  cord  coming  down  the  side  of  the  pole 
the  cross  bar  was  set  to  whirling  rapidly  and  this 
frightened  the  birds  until  they  tried  to  fly  away. 
The  parrot  was  chained  fast  and  to  make  the  aim 
more  difficult,  the  other  birds  were  fastened  by 
strings  of  different  lengths.  The  marksman  must 
free  each  one  of  them  and  then  hit  it  before  it 
could  escape.  The  first  liberated  was  the  blue  jay. 
The  Golden  Hearted  cut  the  cord  neatly  and 
wounded  the  bird  while  it  was  still  rising.  The 
arrow  fell  near  the  base  of  the  pole  bringing  the 
right  wing  with  it. 

This  won  him  the  wreath,  and  he  now  turned  to 
the  wise  men  for  a  signal.  They  could  demand  the 
last  three  shots.  Would  they  do  it!  He  inclined 
his  head  toward  them  as  one  of  the  number  picked 
up  a  black  flag  and  waved  it.  There  was  an 
answering  shout  and  a  cheer,  and  the  Golden 
Hearted  prepared  to  shoot  again.  This  time  he 


M1CHABO,  THE  GKEAT  WHITE  HAKE       89 

aimed  at  the  raven  and  cut  the  string  near  the  pole. 
Its  weight  caused  the  captive  to  fly  in  an  oblique 
line  downward  for  a  moment.  Quick  as  a  flash  the 
second  arrow  sped  and  the  raven  fell  to  the  ground 
pierced  through  the  heart !  Without  looking  to  see 
what  had  happened  the  Golden  Hearted  shot  at 
the  dove  and  as  it  flew  up  in  a  circle  everybody 
saw  that  it  was  unharmed. 

Then  they  fought  and  struggled  with  each 
other  for  the  privilege  of  carrying  the  victor  off 
the  grounds,  but  the  Golden  Hearted  escaped 
through  a  side  door  and  ran  away  as  fast  as  he 
could.  He  did  not  wish  to  speak  to  any  one  nor 
have  them  see  how  unhappy  he  felt.  He  really 
was  heartbroken  because  he  had  killed  the  raven. 


THE     HOUSE     OF     WUNZH 


The  Birth  of  Corn 

UNZH  was  greatly  disturbed 
and  downcast  over  his  defeat 
because  he  thought  the  Great 
Spirit   had    sent   the    Golden 
Hearted    in    answer    to    his 
supplications,  and  he  now  felt 
certain  that  he  was  in  disfavor.     He 
lay  awake  all  night  thinking  what  he 
could  do  to  win  a  token  of  good  will 
from  the  Great  Spirit.    He  knew  better 
than   to    ask    anything    for   himself,    but   begged 
and  implored  that  it  should  be  something  for  the 
benefit  of  his  tribe. 

"Michabo  says  I  eat  too  much  flesh,  and  that 
I  must  learn  to  fast  before  any  good  will  come  to 
me,"  he  said  over  and  over  to  himself.  "He  shall 
see  that  I  know  how  to  obey  even  if  my  arrows  do 
go  wide  of  the  mark. ' '  There  was  a  great  lump  in 
his  throat  and  to  tell  the  truth  there  were  a  few 
tears  trickling  down  his  cheeks,  but  he  brushed 
them  away  quickly  as  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  shook 
out  the  buffalo  robes  which  had  answered  for  his 
bed. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  CORN  91 

"I  will  go  to  a  secret  place  in  the  forest  and 
build  me  a  lodge,  and  there  I  will  stay  and  fast 
until  the  Great  Spirit  grants  my  wish." 

He  told  no  one  of  his  intention  and  was  gone 
several  days  before  he  was  missed  at  the  council 
fires  where  the  wise  men  were  instructing  the  med- 
icine men  in  the  use  of  a  wampum  belt  made  of 
different  colored  beads.  The  colors  were  the  same 
as  the  Quippos  and  the  counting  with  them  was 
done  in  the  same  manner.  While  the  women  were 
weaving  a  very  handsome  wampum  belt  to  be  used 
as  a  council  brand  of  authority,  the  wise  men 
helped  build  a  Long  House  in  the  center  of  the 
confederation  of  tribes  to  put  it  in.  Then  they 
ordered  four  other  Long  Houses  built  on  the  north, 
east,  south  and  west  corners  of  the  country,  so  that 
the  runners  would  have  some  place  to  stay  when 
they  started  with  the  wampum  belt  to  let  the  out- 
side tribes  know  the  will  of  the  council. 

The  Golden  Hearted  did  not  seem  to  take  any 
interest  in  this  work  at  all,  but  went  among  the 
people  playing  all  kinds  of  pranks.  Sometimes  he 
frightened  them  nearly  to  death,  and  then  again  he 
would  set  them  into  roars  of  laughter  by  the  funny 
things  he  did.  He  invented  so  many  tricks  and  was 
so  full  of  mischief  that  every  one  was  on  the  look- 
out and  attributed  all  the  happenings  they  could 
not  account  for  in  any  other  way  to  him  whether 
he  did  them  or  not. 

"What  has  become  of  Wunzh!  Has  anybody 
seen  him!"  began  to  be  constant  queries,  and  his 


92  THE    STOIUES   OF   EL  DOftADO 

family  looked  very  sad  indeed.  The  Golden 
Hearted  knew  where  he  was  and  that  he  was  fast- 
ing, so  he  waited  until  nightfall  and  then  dressed 
himself  in  rich  garments  of  green  and  yellow  shad- 
ing into  light  and  dark  tints.  Putting  on  his  crown 
with  the  long  green  Quetzal  plumes  he  slipped  off 
into  the  woods  to  find  Wunzh.  Approaching  the 
lodge  he  said: 

"I  am  sent  to  you,  my  friend,  by  that  Great 
Spirit  who  made  all  things  in  the  sky  and  on  the 
earth.  He  has  seen  and  known  your  motives  in  the 
fasting.  He  sees  that  it  is  from  a  kind  and  benev- 
olent wish  to  do  good  to  your  people  and  to  procure 
a  benefit  for  them  and  not  for  strength  in  war  or 
the  praise  of  warriors.  I  come  to  show  you  how  to 
do  your  kindred  good,  but  you  must  rise  and 
wrestle  with  me. ' ' 

Wunzh  knew  that  he  was  weak  from  fasting, 
but  felt  his  courage  rising  in  his  heart,  and  he  got 
up  immediately  determined  to  die  rather  than  fail. 

He  instantly  clinched  with  the  Golden  Hearted 
and  wrestled  with  him  until  nearly  exhausted. 

"My  friend,  this  is  enough  for  to-day.  I  will 
come  again  to  try  you  to-morrow  at  the  same 
hour. ' ' 

The  Golden  Hearted  came  dressed  in  the  same 
fashion  and  wrestled  with  Wunzh  for  three  suc- 
cessive evenings.  Each  day  the  f aster's  strength 
grew  less  and  less,  but  he  was  more  determined 
than  ever. 

' '  To-morrow  will  be  your  last  trial.  Be  strong, 


THE    WRESTLING     MATCH 


94  THE    STORIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

my  friend,  for  this  is  the  only  way  you  can  over- 
come me  and  obtain  the  boon  you  seek." 

The  next  day  the  poor  youth  exerted  his 
utmost  power  and  after  awhile  the  Golden 
Hearted  ceased  wrestling. 

"I  am  conquered,"  he  said/and  went  into  the 
lodge  and  began  to  teach  Wunzh.  "You  have 
wrestled  manfully  and  have  fasted  seven  days. 
Now  you  must  strip  off  my  clothing  and  throw  me 
down.  Clean  the  earth  of  roots  and  reeds;  make 
it  soft  and  bury  these  garments  here.  When  you 
have  done  this  be  careful  never  to  let  the  grass  grow 
over  the  spot.  Once  a  month  cover  it  with  fresh 
earth.  If  you  follow  these  instructions  you  will  do 
great  good  to  your  fellow  creatures." 

In  the  morning  the  father  of  Wunzh  came 
with  some  slight  refreshments,  saying: 

"My  son,  you  have  fasted  long  enough.  If  the 
Great  Spirit  intends  to  favor  you  he  will  do  it  now. 
It  is  seven  days  since  you  tasted  food  and  you 
must  not  sacrifice  your  health.  That  the  Master  of 
Life  does  not  require  of  you." 

' '  Wait,  father,  until  the  sun  goes  down.  I  have 
a  particular  reason  for  extending  my  fast  until 
that  hour." 

"Very  well,"  said  the  father,  kindly.  "I  will 
wait  until  you  feel  inclined  to  eat. ' ' 

Even  though  he  was  hungry  the  young  man 
felt  strangely  renewed  and  strengthened  and  when 
it  was  night  he  was  ready  to  wrestle  with  the 
Golden  Hearted  again.  When  he  thought  he  had 


THE  BIRTH  OF  CORN"  95 

killed  the  prince  he  took  off  his  garments  and 
plumes  and  buried  them  as  he  had  been  told  to  do. 
Afterwards  he  returned  to  his  father's  lodge  and 
partook  sparingly  of  food,  but  he  never  for  a 
moment  forgot  the  new-made  grave. 

Because  he  was  so  full  of  pranks  and  tricks, 
the  descendants  of  the  Mound  Builders  saw  some- 
thing mysterious  and  strange  in  everything  the 
Golden  Hearted  did,  and  when  he  built  a  boat  to 
go  down  the  great  river  in,  they  said  it  was  a  magic 
canoe  and  expected  almost  anything  to  happen. 
However  before  he  and  the  wise  men  went  away, 
they  made  him  the  father  and  guardian  of  their 
nation,  and  they  have  considered  him  as  such  ever 
since. 

Weeks  went  by  and  the  summer  was  drawing 
to  a  close  when  Wunzh  returned  after  a  long 
absence  in  hunting.  Going  to  his  father  he  invited 
him  to  come  to  the  quiet  lonesome  spot  where  he 
had  fasted  so  long.  There  in  a  circle  freed  from 
weeds  stood  a  tall  graceful  plant  with  bright  col- 
ored silken  hair  surmounted  by  nodding  plumes, 
luxuriant  green  leaves  and  clusters  of  golden  grain 
on  each  side. 

"It  is  my  friend,  and  the  friend  of  all  man- 
kind. It  is  Mondamin,  the  spirit  of  corn.  We  need 
no  longer  rely  on  hunting  alone  for  so  long  as 
this  gift  is  cherished  and  taken  care  of  the  ground 
itself  will  give  us  a  living.  See,  my  father, ' '  said 
Wunzh,  pulling  off  an  ear,  "this  is  what  I  fasted 
for.  This  is  why  Michabo  put  me  through  so  many 


96  THE    STORIES   OF  EL  DORADO 

trials.  But  the  Great  Spirit  has  listened  to  my  voice 
and  sent  us  something  new.  Our  people  need  no 
longer  depend  upon  the  chase  and  the  water  for 
food." 

Then  he  told  his  father  how  he  had  wrestled 
with  the  Golden  Hearted,  and  how  he  had  torn  off 
his  garments. 

"He  said  I  was  to  treat  the  ear  in  the  same 
manner,  and  when  it  was  stripped  I  must  hold  it 
to  the  fire  until  the  outer  skin  becomes  brown  while 
all  the  milk  is  retained  in  the  grain/' 

The  whole  family  of  Wunzh  joined  in  a  feast 
on  the  roasted  ears,  and  were  very  grateful  for  such 
a  rich  blessing.  And  this  is  the  way  the  Indians 
say  corn  came  into  the  world. 

We  learned  its  use  from  them,  and  also  to  hold 
the  old-fashioned  husking  bees  where  all  the  young 
people  got  together  and  pulled  off  the  husks  after 
the  ripe  ears  of  corn  had  been  gathered  into  the 
barn.  It  was  always  great  fun,  especially  when 
they  found  red  ears,  but  let  us  see  what  the  Indians 
used  to  say  about  it : 

Then  Nokomis,  the  old  woman, 

Spake  and  said  to  Minnehaha: 

"  "Tis  the  moon  when  leaves  are  falling 

All  the  wild  rice  has  been  gathered 

And  the  maize  is  ripe  and  ready ; 

Let  us  gather  in  the  harvest, 

Let  us  wrestle  with  Mondamin, 

Strip  him  of  his  plumes  and  tassels, 

Of  his  garments  green  and  yellow." 


THE    BIRTH    OF    CORN  97 

And  the  merry  Laughing  Water 
Went  rejoicing  from  the  wigwam, 
With  Nokomis  old  and  wrinkled, 
And  they  called  the  women  round  them, 
Called  the  young  men  and  the  maidens, 
To  the  harvest  of  the  cornfields, 
To  the  husking  of  the  maize  ear. 

On  the  border  of  the  forest, 
Underneath  the  fragrant  pine-trees, 
Sat  the  old  man  and  the  warriors 
Smoking  in  the  pleasant  shadow 
In  uninterrupted  silence 
Looked  they  at  the  gamesome  labor 
Of  the  young  men  and  the  women; 
Listened  to  their  noisy  talking, 
To  their  laughter  and  their  singing 

Heard  them  chattering  like  the  magpies, 
Heard  them  laughing  like  the  blue- jays, 
Heard  them  singing  like  the  robins. 

And  whene'er  some  lucky  maiden 
Found  a  red  ear  in  the  husking 
Found  a  maize-ear  red  as  blood  is, 
"Nuska!"  cried  they  all  together, 
"Nuska!  you  shall  have  a  sweetheart, 
You  shall  have  a  handsome  husband ! ' ' 
"Ugh!"  the  old  men  all  responded 
From  their  seats  behind  the  pine-trees. 

And  whene'er  a  youth  or  maiden 
Found  a  crooked  ear  in  husking, 
Found  a  maize-ear  in  the  husking 
Blighted,  mildewed  or  misshapen, 


98  THE    STOEIES   OF   EL  DORADO 

Then  they  laughed  and  sang  together, 
Crept  and  limped  about  the  cornfields, 
Mimicked  in  their  gait  and  gestures 
Some  old  man  bent  almost  double, 
Singing  singly  or  together 
Till  the  cornfields  rang  with  laughter, 
"Ugh!"  the  old  men  all  responded, 
From  their  seats  behind  the  pine-trees. 

The  Indians  have  many  pretty  stories  about 
the  birth  of  corn.  When  the  two  little  slender  green 
leaves  come  up  through  the  ground  they  say  that 
it  is  the  long  green  plumes  of  the  crown  buried  by 
Wunzh  and  when  it  is  ready  for  harvest  they  think 
the  green  and  gold  of  the  leaves  and  grain  are 
the  rest  of  the  garments  turned  into  a  plant.  They 
say  that  if  you  stand  near  a  cornfield  in  the  moon- 
light you  can  hear  Mondamin,  the  corn  spirit,  mur- 
muring and  complaining  of  the  way  we  treat  him 
to  the  wind,  the  stars,  and  the  little  insects  hidden 
in  the  glossy  leaves  and  silken  tassels. 


The  Wrathy  Chieftain 

ter  sailing  down  the  great  river 
for    many    days    the     Golden 
Hearted  and  the  wise  men  came 
into  a  trackless  waste  with  no 
means  of  finding  their  way  out 
except  by  watching  where  the 
sun  rose  and  shooting  an  arrow  ahead  of  them. 
This  was  very  slow  work  and  they  all  grew  quite 
discouraged  over  it. 

"It  is  altogether  too  bad  that  for  fear  of  get- 
ting lost  we  must  halt  each  time  and  speed  another 
arrow  before  we  overtake  the  last  one,"  said  the 
Golden  Hearted  one  day  when  they  were  nearly 
worn  out  with  the  heat  and  dust  of  a  country  not 
much  better  than  a  desert.  ' 1 1  have  a  feeling, ' '  he 
continued,  "that  we  will  not  be  well  treated  by  the 
people  we  find  here.  I  do  so  wish  we  might  come  to 
the  cactus  and  the  rock  with  a  serpent  at  its  base 


100  THE   STORIES  OF  EL  DORADO 

where  my  father  commanded  me  to  found  a  city  in 
honor  of  the  sun." 

"We  are  going  in  the  right  direction, " 
answered  the  wise  men,  ' '  but  the  end  of  our  search 
is  not  yet. ' ' 

"  And  much  as  my  heart  yearns  for  the  Happy 
Island  I  will  not  return  to  my  father  until  all  his 
wishes  have  been  fulfilled/' 

Through  the  murky  gray  clouds  the  stars  did 
not  make  much  light,  and  there  was  only  a  thin 
crescent  moon,  which  gave  a  sense  of  utter  lone- 
liness to  the  Golden  Hearted  when  he  went  to  bed 
that  night.  The  coyotes  all  around  him  howled 
and  that  made  it  worse,  but  he  finally  fell  asleep. 
By. and  by  he  was  awakened  by  a  cold,  wet  nose 
touching  his  hand,  and  when  he  raised  up  on  his 
elbow  to  see  what  it  was,  there  stood  a  coyote.  They 
are  not  very  dangerous  animals  but  they  are 
sneaking  and  treacherous.  Now  we  know  that 
the  Golden  Hearted  was  gentle  and  kind  to  all 
creatures,  and  the  coyote  must  have  known  it  too, 
for  it  rubbed  its  head  on  his  hand  and  did  not  seem 
in  the  least  afraid. 

"Come,  my  good  fellow,  let  us  be  friends," 
said  the  Golden  Hearted.  ' '  I  will  not  hurt  you,  and 
you  can  guide  me  to  my  brethren.  I  have  never 
seen  their  faces,  but  wish  very  much  to  find  them. ' ' 

The  coyote  wrinkled  up  his  nose  and  made  a 
funny  little  sneezing  sound  as  if  he  were  talking, 
and  he  wagged  his  tail  as  friendly  as  a  dog. 
Maybe  he  did  not  understand  what  was  said  to  him, 


THE    WRAT.HY    CHIEFTAIN  101 

but  any  how  he  felt  safe  enough  to  lie  down  close  to 
his  new  friend  and  go  sound  asleep.  When  the 
wise  men  saw  him  the  next  morning,  they  said: 

"It  is  a  good  omen  and  means  that  we  shall 
soon  come  to  a  stopping  place  where  strange  events 
will  happen. ' ' 

This  put  the  Golden  Hearted  into  a  better 
humor  because  he  felt  less  doubtful  and  discour- 
aged and  he  was  much  interested  in  the  antics  of  the 
sagacious  little  companion  that  trudged  by  his  side 
all  day  long.  The  coyote  was  enterprising  enough 
to  kill  as  many  birds  as  it  needed  for  food,  without 
going  far  out  of  the  way  and  was  not  a  whit  of 
trouble  to  anybody.  There  was  not  a  tree  nor  a 
shrub  to  hide  the  nakedness  of  the  dusty  plains, 
nor  was  it  possible  to  rest  with  any  comfort  until 
after  the  sun  went  down. 

All  of  a  sudden  the  coyote  stopped  short, 
pricked  up  its  ears  and  listened  intently. 

"Yelp!  yelp!  yelp!"  was  what  the  Golden 
Hearted  heard,  and  it  sounded  as  if  there  were  hun- 
dreds of  young  puppies  everywhere.  Looking 
closely  he  discovered  little  heaps  of  earth  with  a 
smooth-headed  animal  sitting  on  all  fours  beside 
it  and  yelping  a  protest  to  being  disturbed.  They 
were  right  in  the  midst  of  a  village  of  prairie  dogs, 
which  are  about  the  size  of  a  jack-rabbit,  but  not 
nearly  so  destructive. 

' '  Come  and  see  what  I  have  found, ' '  called  out 
the  Golden  Hearted  to  the  wise  men  who  were  com- 
ing up  behind  him.  At  the  sound  of  his  voice  the 


102  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

prairie  dogs  gave  a  quick,  short  yelp,  their  heels 
twinkled  in  the  air  for  a  second,  and  they  fairly 
turned  a  somersault  diving  into  their  holes.  By 
the  time  the  wise  men  were  ready  to  look  there  was 
not  a  whisker  of  an  inhabitant  to  be  seen. 

"What  is  it?"  they  said,  "Where!  we  do  riot 
see  anything." 

"Watch  these  fresh  piles  of  dirt,  and  you  will 
see  something  come  out  of  them, ' '  said  the  Golden 
Hearted. 

*  *  Yes ; ' '  said  one,  i  i  there  are  some  rattle- 
snakes. ' ' 

"And  here  are  some  owls,"  said  another.  "Is 
it  possible  that  you  have  never  seen  these  creatures 
before?"  and  the  wise  men  laughed  at  the  Golden 
Hearted  and  thought  they  had  a  good  joke  on  him. 

1 '  Let  us  keep  quiet  for  a  while.  I  tell  you  there 
is  something  else  in  those  burrows  besides  snakes 
and  owls,"  he  insisted  seriously. 

Not  hearing  any  more  noise,  one  after  another 
of  the  little  prairie  dogs  put  its  head  up  out  of  the 
hole,  and  then  stole  forth  cautiously  to  talk  the 
matter  over  with  its  next  door  neighbor.  There 
were  regular  beaten  pathways  or  lanes  from  one 
burrow  to  another  and  they  were  evidently  on  very 
friendly  footing  with  each  other. 

"These  are  indeed  curious  little  animals," 
said  the  wise  men,  now  much  interested.  * l  They  not 
only  live  in  communities,  but  keep  the  peace  with 
their  brothers,  the  snake  and  the  owl.  There  is 
certainly  no  greater  source  of  knowledge  than  the 


THE    WEATHY    CHIEFTAIN  103 

book  of  nature.  Here  God  puts  before  us  the  thing 
He  wishes  us  to  learn." 

At  the  very  first  words  of  the  wise  men  the 
prairie  dogs  scampered  back  into  their  holes ;  and 
before  they  showed  themselves  again  a  party  of 
husbandmen  came  along  on  their  way  to  a  harvest 
field  which  they  said  was  a  day's  journey  ahead. 

"Why  do  you  linger  in  this  desert?"  they 
asked  of  the  Golden  Hearted.  "There  are  habita^ 
tions  farther  on  where  the  earth  is  watered. ' ' 

"We  are  seeking  those  who  need  our  assist- 
ance and  must  only  tarry  where  we  are  welcome, ' ' 
he  answered. 

* i  Then  come  to  our  commune.  We  have  no  one 
to  show  us  how  to  heal  the  sick  nor  to  coax  fertil- 
ity out  of  this  barren  soil,"  they  said.  "If  you 
will  go,  we  will  remain  for  the  night  and  lead  the 
way." 

So  it  was  arranged  and  to  everybody 's  comfort 
and  joy  it  began  to  rain  shortly  after  and  then  the 
air  was  much  more  cool  and  pleasant. 

The  little  prairie  dogs  were  not  so  well  pleased 
with  this  arrangement.  They  stuck  their  noses  up 
into  the  moist  air  and  whined  and  yelped  half  of 
the  night.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  they  were 
holding  an  indignation  meeting,  and  were  having 
a  noisy  and  windy  debate.  May  be  they  were  com- 
paring notes  about  the  tall  hats  and  veils  of  the 
wise  men,  or  they  may  not  have  thought  their  long 
beards  becoming.  Or  who  shall  say  that  they  were 
not  in  their  own  peculiar  fashion  devising  plans 


:  •    •    .  .  •  " 


THE    WRATHY    CHIEFTAIN 


THE   WRATHY    CHIEFTAIN  105 

for  safety,  and  to  vindicate  their  offended  dignity ! 
They  may  have  objected  seriously  to  having 
strange  men  intruding  upon  their  privacy,  and  it 
must  not  be  considered  a  reflection  on  their  courage 
because  they  scampered  out  of  sight  at  the  sound  of 
a  human  voice.  It  was  quite  enough  to  frighten 
inoffensive  little  animals  like  these. 

It  is  said  that  Katzimo,  the  enchanted  Mesa, 
was  the  first  stopping-place  of  the  Golden  Hearted, 
and  it  is  certain  that  the  wise  men  taught  the  hus- 
bandmen in  that  part  of  the  world  how  to  make 
irrigating  ditches  and  canals  all  through  their 
inhospitable  country,  because  there  are  many 
remains  of  these  waterways  still  to  be  seen.  Some 
say,  too,  that  these  people  got  the  idea  of  living  in 
pueblos  or  villages  from  studying  the  habits  of  the 
prairie  dogs  and  to  this  day  the  coyote  is  thought 
to  be  a  good  friend  by  the  descendants  of  these 
ancient  husbandmen. 

' '  The  hunters  are  angry  with  you  for  teaching 
the  tillers  of  the  soil  how  to  make  the  land  fertile 
without  making  it  easier  for  the  men  of  the  chase 
to  get  food  for  themselves  and  families,"  said  an 
old  woman  to  the  Golden  Hearted,  one  day  as  he 
stood  watching  her  make  a  water  jar  of  clay.  She 
would  not  have  spoken  had  he  not  shown  her  how 
to  make  a  pretty  design  and  also  how  to  orna- 
ment it  differently  from  anything  she  had  seen 
before. 

' '  I  am  willing  to  teach  them  to  weave  blankets 
and  baskets,"  he  replied.  "The  Good  Law  spares 
the  life  of  every  creature  and  forbids  our  eating  its 


106          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

flesh  for  food.  The  hunters  should  give  up  the 
chase  and  fighting. ' ' 

"They  say  that  only  women  should  do  these 
things,"  said  the  old  pottery  maker,  "and  they 
disdain  to  carry  the  rocks  and  mud  to  make  our 
dwellings. ' ' 

"In  this  they  are  wrong,"  said  the  Golden 
Hearted,  kindly,  as  he  turned  to  greet  some  of  the 
wise  men.  "We  must  hasten  our  task  for  already 
is  discontent  showing  itself  among  the  tribes,"  he 
said  to  them. 

'  *  We  must  kindle  the  sacred  fires  and  build  the 
temple  at  once, ' '  they  said.  ' '  We  have  heard  mur- 
murings  and  complaints  of  late  and  know  your 
words  are  true. ' ' 

As  soon  as  possible  they  began  the  work  of 
construction  of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Casa 
Grande  long  since  in  ruins,  of  which  we  shall  hear 
more  in  the  story  of  the  Kingdom  of  Quivera.  The 
wise  men  kindled  and  guarded  the  sacred  fires,  and 
when  leaving  appointed  warriors  to  take  turns  in 
watching  them. 

"You  must  serve  for  two  successive  days  and 
live  during  that  time  without  food,  drink  or  sleep, ' ' 
they  said,  and  that  mandate  has  been  kept  to  this 
day.  In  the  meantime  the  Golden  Hearted  busied 
himself  with  teaching  them  the  use  of  herbs  and 
plants  for  medicine  and  had  them  go  into  estufas 
or  sweat  houses  when  they  were  ill  or  wished  to 
purify  themselves  of  a  sin  or  fault. 

Tradition  says  that    the    hunters    lured  the 


THE    WKATHY    CHIEFTAIN  107 

Golden  Hearted  away  from  his  comrades  and  tried 
to  kill  him,  and  that  they  threw  the  wise  men  over 
the  edge  of  the  cliff,  but  it  has  been  so  long  ago 
that  no  one  can  remember  what  it  was  they  did  that 
wounded  and  hurt  him.  One  day  he  planted  a  tree 
upside  down  and  calling  all  the  people  about  him 
said : 

"Many,  many  years  from  now  a  strange 
nation  will  oppress  you,  and  there  will  be  no  more 
rain.  I  charge  you  to  guard  the  sacred  fires  well 
until  the  tree  I  have  planted  falls.  Then  I  will  come 


back  and  bring  a  white  race  that  will  overcome 
your  enemies.  After  that  the  rain  will  fall,  and 
the  earth  will  be  fertile  again." 

The  simple,  frugal  husbandmen  and  weavers 
are  still  looking  for  his  return  and  they  believe  he 


108          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

will  descend  from  the  sky  by  the  columns  of  smoke 
they  guard.  It  has  been  so  long  ago  that  they  think 
he  lives  in  the  sun  now,  and  build  their  houses 
with  an  opening  to  the  east  which  is  never  closed. 

"We  do  this  that  he  may  find  a  welcome  when 
he  comes, ' '  they  say. 

Once  every  fifty  years  they  put  out  all  the 
sacred  fires  and  go  up  on  the  high  mountain  tops 
just  before  dawn,  and  wail  and  mourn  and  break 
pottery,  imploring  the  shining  orb  to  bring  back 
him 

"Who  dwelt  up  in  the  yellow  sun 
And  sorrowing  for  man's  despair 
Slid  by  his  trailing  yellow  hair 
To  earth  to  rule,  by  love  and  bring 
The  blessedness  of  peace." 


The  Plumed  Serpent,  Quetzalcoatl 

AR  as  the  eye  could  reach 
stretched  the  beautiful  valley  of 
Anahuac,  where  the  air  was  sweet 
with  the  breath  of  flowers,  and  the 
earth  seemed  to  melt  perfectly  into 
the  sky. 

'  *  Oh !  that  mine  eyes  should  see 
the   splendor  of  this  vision,"   said 
Mexi,   the   oldest  of  the  wise  men 
and  the  most  learned,  clasping  his 
hands  in  rapture.    "  Oh !  that  I  have 
been  spared  to  see  the  fruition  of  thy  will,  great 
king  and  brother.     Now  may  I  go  hence  in  peace. ' ' 
As  he  ceased  speaking  he  tottered  and  would 
have  fallen  had  not  one  of  the  tamanes  or  porters, 
seated  on  mats  under  the  shade  of  a  giant  oak, 
hastily  risen,  and  caught  him  as  his  head  fell  for- 
ward on  his  bosom. 

"The  elements  have  undone  thee, "  cried  the 
Golden  Hearted,  kneeling  hurriedly  by  his  side 
and  supporting  the  drooping  head  on  his  knee. 
"Thou  art  sadly  in  need  of  rest,"  he  continued, 
alarmed  at  the  pallor  overspreading  Mexi's  finely 
wrinkled  face. 

The  old  man  pushed  the  thin  white  locks  of 
hair  off  his  forehead,  let  the  mantle  slip  back  from 
his  throat,  and  seemed  to  breathe  easier. 


110  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

' '  I  am  come  to  my  final  rest, ' '  he  replied  with 
a  feeble  smile.  "It  is  not  given  me  to  enter  the 
promised  land." 

.  The  tawny,  broad-shouldered,  half-clad 
tamanes,  laid  down  the  thin  cakes  of  ground  corn 
they  were  eating  and  came  near  to  the  stricken  old 
man,  while  the  other  wise  men  took  off  their  hats 
and  listened  with  bowed  heads  to  what  their  com- 
rade and  leader  said.  They  had  stopped  to  rest 
and  refresh  themselves  with  food  under  the  cool 
inviting  shade  of  the  trees  where  they  could  listen 
to  the  murmur  of  waterfalls,  and  feast,  the  eyes 
on  the  landscape  surrounding  them. 

"There!"  said  Mexi,  attracted  by  the  buzzing 
of  tiny  wings,  "is  the  green-throated  humming- 
bird thou  wert  to  follow  as  thy  guide  to  the  spot 
where  a  city  is  to  be  built  in  honor  of  the  sun." 

The  Golden  Hearted  held  up  his  hand  with  the 
forefinger  extended  and  in  a  moment  the  little 
humming-bird  lighted  on  it  and  looked  at  him 
curiously,  as  though  obeying  the  will  of  some  one. 
He  did  not  touch  it  nor  attempt  to  move  for  a  few 
moments.  Then  he  said: 

"Little  brother,  spend  the  remainder  of  thy 
days  with  me.  I  need  thee  sorely,  and  have  long 
waited  for  thy  guidance." 

In  the  meantime  the  wise  men  had  given  Mexi 
a  cup  of  chocolate,  not  in  a  thin  liquid  like  we 
know  it,  but  thick  like  a  cold  custard,  and  with 
whipped  goat's  cream  on  top. 

' '  Thou  art  kind, ' '  he  said  growing  weaker  and 


THE     HUMMING-BIRD     ALIGHTED     ON     HIS     FINGER" 

See  opposite  page 


112  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

more  faint  all  the  time,  "to  try  to  prolong  a  life 
already  spent."  Turning  his  eyes  toward  the 
Golden  Hearted  he  continued:  "Lying  next  my 
heart  thou  wilt  find  a  bundle  of  mystery.  Carry  it 
without  opening  until  the  time  of  thy  departure 
from  this  strange  land  is  at  hand.  Open  then  and 
thou  wilt  find  directions  for  thy  special  work.'7 

He  did  not  speak  again  and  when  they  tried  to 
rouse  him  there  was  a  smile  of  infinite  peace  on  his 
face,  hut  nothing  save  the  lifeless  hody  was  before 
them.  The  gentle,  sweet  spirit  of  the  old  man  had 
gone  back  to  God. 

"We  will  neither  weep  nor  mourn  for  him," 
said  the  wise  men  to  the  Golden  Hearted.  "It 
would  not  be  his  wish,  and  we  will  show  our  love  by 
obeying  him." 

And  so  they  left  him  sleeping  in  a  dell  of  ferns 
and  mosses,  in  sight  of  Anahuac,  the  land  by  the 
side  of  water,  as  its  name  indicates,  and  continued 
their  journey  southward. 

On  the  way  the  wise  men  found  a  little 
creature,  looking  like  a  black  currant  with  neither 
head,  legs  nor  tail,  so  far  as  they  could  see.  It  is  fat 
and  dark  and  round,  but  if  you  squeeze  him  his 
blood  is  a  brighter  color  than  currant  juice,  and 
much  more  valuable  because  we  get  cochineal  red 
of  one,  and  currant  jelly  from  the  other.  It  was  in 
the  valley  of  Anahuac  that  the  cochineal  bug  was 
first  found,  and  it  lives  on  the  leaves  of  the  prickly 
pear,  or  tuna  cactus— the  common  kind  with  leaves 
shaped  like  a  ham,  and  covered  with  long  sharp 
needles. 


THE    PLUMED    SERPENT  113 

The  young  cochineal  bugs  are  so  stupid  that 
they  must  be  tied  on  the  leaves  of  the  prickly  pear 
to  keep  them  from  falling  off  and  starving.  In  this 
way,  too,  they  keep  dry  and  warm  in  winter,  but 
as  soon  as  they  are  grown  they  are  ruthlessly 
shaken  to  death  and  dried  in  the  sun.  Then  the 
queer,  shriveled  dead  bugs  are  put  up  in  bags  and 
sold. 

"In  the  hot  lands  far  to  the  south,  the  woods 
are  full  of  rare  orchids  and  other  gems  of  the 
flower  kingdom,"  said  the  Golden  Hearted  one  day 
after  a  search  for  plants  by  the  wayside,  ' '  but  the 
vanilla  bean  is  the  only  one  fit  for  food.  It  will  be 
well  worth  our  while  to  study  this  strange  branch 
of  husbandry  as  soon  as  possible." 

It  was  a  long  time  before  they  came  to  a  place 
near  the  seashore  where  a  number  of  women  were 
picking  the  ripe  pods  from  vanilla  vines  which 
overran  the  trees  and  shrubs  completely.  The 
younger  women  had  on  bright-colored  petticoats 
and  gay  scarfs  over  their  long  black  hair,  and  they 
were  storing  the  bean  pods  in  wide-mouthed 
baskets  strapped  across  their  foreheads. 

"What  next  do  you  do  with  these  pods!"  he 
asked  of  a  young  girl  passing  him  with  a  full 
basket. 

"We  carefully  assort  them  and  then  plunge 
the  packages  into  hot  water,  before  laying  them 
out  on  mats  to  drain.  For  a  week  the  beans  are 
exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  laid  between  woolen 
blankets.  After  this  we  pack  them  in  ollas  and  keep 


114  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

them  warm  so  as  to  promote  fermentation  while 
drying.  This  makes  them  soft,  pliable,  free  from 
moisture,  and  of  a  dark  chocolate  color  thickly 
frosted  with  needle-like  crystals  of  acid." 

And  to  this  day  if  you  buy  vanilla  beans  they 
come  in  packages  wrapped  in  silver  foil,  and  have 
a  delicious  odor. 

The  bean  is  from  six  to  nine  inches  long,  and 
must  be  ground  fine  before  it  can  be  used  in  mak- 
ing the  chocolate  we  are  all  so  fond  of,  but  it  is 
dried  and  packed  in  the  same  manner  as  that 
described  to  the  Golden  Hearted. 

It  was  not  many  days  after  leaving  the  wooded 
plains,  that  the  travelers  came  in  sight  of  four 
beautiful  lakes  with  the  frowning  cliffs  of  Chapul- 
tepec  outlined  against  the  sky.  Always  on  the 
alert  for  a  sign  the  wise  men  said  to  each  other 
in  awe-stricken  whispers: 

"We  must  be  near  the  place." 

"Do  you  not  see  the  rock  with  the  flowering 
cactus ! ' ' 

"And  an  eagle  circling  in  the  air  with  a  ser- 
pent in  its  claws  ! ' ' 

' '  Oh !  thou  seen  and  unseen  powers !  search  our 
hearts  that  thou  mayst  know  all  our  gratitude," 
cried  the  Golden  Hearted,  falling  on  his  knees  and 
then  prostrating  himself  on  the  ground,  as  did  all 
the  wise  men. 

"I  am  Guatamo, "  said  a  voice,  and  when  the 
Golden  Hearted  looked  up,  a  man  old  as  Mexi  stood 
blessing  him.  "Rise  and  receive  word  from  thy 


THE    PLUMED    SERPENT  115 

father,  the  king  from  whom  I  am  come.  Fear  me 
not;  these  hands  have  guided  thy  baby  footsteps. 
Now  must  thou  lend  ear  to  my  counsel. ' ' 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  overjoyed  to  see  some 
one  from  his  father's  court,  and  also  glad  to  know 
that  his  wanderings  in  search  of  the  place  to  honor 
the  sun  was  over. 

"This  is  not  a  promising  outlook,"  said  Gua- 
tamo,  "but  in  the  parchment  scroll  thou  wilt  find 
ample  instructions  to  drain  and  render  this  a  gar- 
den spot  of  exceeding  loveliness.  Hasten  thy  task 
since  thy  father  is  no  longer  living,  and  thy  native 
land  longs  to  see  thee  again." 

Acting  upon  this  advice  the  Golden  Hearted 
and  the  wise  men  set  to  work  at  once  to  build  the 
city,  and  to  teach  the  willing  natives  to  cultivate 
the  land,  and  to  make  handsome  mosaics  out  of  the 
bright-colored  feathers  of  the  birds  found  in  the 
forests  in  such  numbers.  Of  course  the  birds  were 
not  killed  to  get  their  feathers,  but  in  the  royal 
gardens  there  were  thousands  of  them  kept  during 
the  moulting  season,  and  then  the  feathers  were 
picked  up  and  assorted  for  use.  Not  only  could  they 
make  perfect  representations  of  birds  and  animals 
with  them,  but  whole  landscape  scenes,  including 
mountains,  sea  and  sky.  When  finished  it  was  nec- 
essary to  touch  them  to  know  that  feathers  instead 
of  paint  had  been  used. 

"The  Nahuas  have  come  from  Aztlan,  the 
white  country,  and  must  be  obeyed, ' '  was  the  word 
carried  from  one  tribe  to  the  other  by  the  runners, 


116  THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

and  the  wise  men  could  only  smile  when  they  heard 
themselves  called  Nahuas,  or  wizards.  The  simple 
natives  thought  them  capable  of  performing  mira- 
cles because  they  were  wise  in  the  arts  and  knew 
how  to  heal  the  sick.  The  name  of  the  Golden 
Hearted  became  Quetzalcoatl,  the  plumed  serpent 
in  their  language,  but  we  must  remember  that  he 
wore  the  Quetzal  plumes  in  his  head-dress,  the  same 
as  a  king  wears  a  gold  and  jeweled  crown,  and  that 
a  serpent  in  many  of  the  languages  of  the  ancient 
people  meant  a  very  wise  man.  In  English  we 
would  say  that  the  Golden  Hearted  was  the  wise 
king,  which  was  not  only  true  but  a  very  simple 
name  for  him.  The  wonderful  city  he  built  was 
called  Tenochtitlan,  which  signified  "in  honor  of 
the  sun, ' '  as  his  father  had  commanded  him  to  do, 
and  on  the  spot  where  it  stood  is  the  City  of  Mexico 
to-day.  We  shall  hear  very  interesting  things 
about  the  teocalli,  or  temple  he  built  in  Tenochtit- 
lan, when  we  come  to  the  story  of  ' '  Montezuma  and 
the  Paba, ' '  for  this  is  one  of  the  most  famous  places 
in  the  new  world,  and  no  one  can  afford  to  be 
ignorant  of  its  traditions  and  history. 


Cholula,  the  Sacred  City 


T  was  in  the  Tonituah,  or  great 
sun  age,  that  the  wise  men  and 
the  Golden  Hearted  built  the 
Memento  for  Generations,  on 
the  plains  of  Puebla.  It  is  not 
so  high,  but  is  twice  as  long 
as  any  other  pyramid  in  the 
world,  and  is  truncated,  that 
is  to  say,  it  has  four  terraces  which  are  reached 
by  long  circular  staircases.  On  top  there  is  an  acre 
of  ground  on  which  once  stood  a  wonderful  teocalli 
or  temple,  built  by  the  wise  men,  and  dedicated  to 
the  Golden  Hearted.  Each  generation  added  some- 
thing to  the  beauties  of  the  Sacred  City,  Cholula, 
which  sprang  up  near  the  pyramid,  and  for  all  time 
it  will  be  one  of  the  most  wonderful  things  ever 
done  by  primitive  men,  who  did  not  have  our  kind 
of  implements  to  work  with. 

The  Golden  Hearted  lived  in  Cholula  twenty 
years,  and  during  that  time  he  taught  so  many  men 
how  to  make  fine  filigree  work  in  gold  and  silver 
that  there  were  whole  streets  filled  with  them,  and 
the  ornaments  they  made  were  famous  for  delicacy 
of  design  and  finish. 

There  was  also  a  mountain  of  outcry,  where 
the  laws  enacted  by  him  were  proclaimed  by  run- 
ners, but  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  this  was 
Orizaba,  with  her  conical  snow-capped  head  far  to 
the  east,  or  whether  it  was  huge  Popocatepetl,  or  his 
twin  sister  who  stood  like  colossal  sentinels  to 
guard  the  enchanted  regions. 


118          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

4 'It  is  necessary  to  construct  a  calendar  stone, 
so  that  the  people  will  know  when  to  hold  festivals, 
and  what  ceremonies  to  perform/7  said  the  son  of 
Guatamo  to  the  Golden  Hearted,  one  day  while  the 
long  line  of  men  were  passing  bricks  by  hand  from 
the  lower  to  the  upper  terrace  of  the  pyramid  which 
they  were  trying  to  finish. 

"I  have  been  thinking  about  it,"  he  replied, 
i '  and  have  decided  to  ask  a  certain  old  woman,  and 
her  husband,  to  help  select  the  signs." 

"Be  sure  to  make  them  plain  to  the  people  and 
appropriate  to  the  subject,"  said  the  son  of 
Guatamo,  who  had  now  become  the  chief  adviser  of 
the  Golden  Hearted.  All  of  the  wise  men  were  still 
called  Nahuas,  or  wizards,  and  the  Golden  Hearted 
was  their  plumed  serpent,  or  wise  king. 

In  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  Golden  Hearted 
approached  the  hut  of  a  famous  soothsayer  and 
story-teller — the  old  woman  he  wished  to  consult 
about  the  calendar.  Standing  in  front  of  the  door 
of  the  hut  he  said : 

"A  humble  applicant  claims  thy  assistance  in 
a  matter  of  great  import  to  thy  fellows  now  and  for 
all  time.  Wilt  thou  kindly  hear  me?" 

1 '  Since  it  is  always  for  thy  brothers  and  never 
for  thyself  thou  art  constrained  to  invoke  aid,  I  am 
honored  by  thy  confidence,"  she  said.  "I  have 
long  been  expecting  thee." 

"Then  thou  knowest  that  I  wish  to  invent  a 
calendar  which  can  be  cut  in  enduring  stone?"  he 
asked,  considerably  surprised  that  she  should 
already  know  his  thoughts. 


CHOLTTLA,    THE    SACRED    CITY  119 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "and  so  well  do  I  under- 
stand thy  wishes  and  needs  that  I  have  the  first 
sign  ready  for  thee. ' '  Motioning  him  to  follow  her 
into  an  inner  room,  she  showed  him  a  water-snake 
she  had  painted  on  a  piece  of  parchment,  and 
continued : 

"Make  it  the  sign  of  the  serpent,  the  symbol 
of  wisdom,  since  thou  art  come  to  teach  brother- 
hood to  all  our  tribes." 

A  queer  hunchbacked  old  man  sat  huddled  up 
in  a  corner  looking  over  a  set  of  parchment  leaves 
lying  on  a  table  before  him,  and  muttering  to  him- 
self in  a  low  tone. 

"My  husband  must  make  the  next  selection," 
said  the  old  crone,  going  up  to  him  and  taking  a 
paper  out  of  his  hands.  "He  makes  it  two  cones," 
she  continued,  examining  the  design  closely. 

'  *  Now  it  is  my  turn  to  choose, ' '  said  the  Golden 
Hearted,  "and  I  will  select  the  three  houses  from 
this  pile,  and  make  that  the  third  sign." 

They  took  turns  about  until  twelve  signs  were 
chosen,  then  the  Golden  Hearted  said: 

"]  will  make  the  last  design  myself,  but  not 
until  my  time  of  departure  is  at  hand." 

"Before  going,  do  not  forget  to  inscribe  the 
face  of  the  pyramid,  and  also  to  explain  its  import 
fully,"  said  the  story-teller  as  the  Golden  Hearted 
was  leaving  her  hut. 

"Thou  art  better  able  than  I  am  to  tell  the 
hidden  significance  of  that  wonderful  pile,"  he 
answered. 


120          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DOEADO 

"But  it  is  thy  duty;  shirk  it  not/'  she  said 
with  decision. 

Not  long  afterward  he  called  all  the  workmen 
and  their  families  together  and  said : 

1  *  There  has  now  come  a  time  in  my  life  when 
I  must  live  in  seclusion  away  from  the  thoughts 
and  occupations  of  my  associates.  But  before 
going  up  on  top  of  the  pyramid  to  live  alone  until 
the  altars  in  its  temples  are  ready  to  receive  the 
sacred  fire,  I  will  tell  you  why  we  have  tarried  so 
long  and  made  such  a  wonderful  structure.  It  is 
really  a  pillar  of  the  Cosmos,  or  world,  and  is  a 
center  of  fire  which  is  the  essence  of  all  life." 

The  name  pyramid  means  a  place  of  fire  or  a 
volcano,  and  the  Goddess  Pele,  of  the  native 
Hawaiians,  is  the  spirit  of  the  volcano. 

"A  pyramid,"  continued  the  Golden  Hearted, 
"is  the  ideal  form  of  the  principle  of  stability 
because  it  cannot  be  destroyed.  An  earthquake  will 
not  shake  it  down,  nor  can  it  be  set  on  fire.  Being  so 
big  at  the  bottom  and  so  heavy  it  is  secure  from 
floods  of  water,  nor  can  the  wind  possibly  blow  it 
over.  Neither  time  nor  the  elements  will  have  any 
influence  on  this  cunningly  constructed  pile,  and 
for  this  reason  it  is  like  a  noble  character,  which 
no  adverse  circumstance  ever  changes." 

Approaching  the  front  of  the  pyramid,  he 
pulled  down  a  cloth  hanging  over  the  inscription 
cut  in  symbols  on  the  face  of  a  huge  piece  of 
granite. 

BEFORE  THE  LIGHT  WAS  OBSCURED 
THIS  MEMENTO  FOR  GENERATIONS  WAS 


CHOLULA,    THE    SACKED    CITY  121 

BUILT  BY  SERPENT  KINGS.  THEY  WERE 
SCATTERED  OVER  THE  EARTH  TO  CAR- 
RY TRUTH  AND  WISDOM.  THEY  WILL 
COME  AGAIN  TO  RECEIVE  THE  TREAS- 
URES HIDDEN  IN  MY  BOWELS.  THEN  ALL 
MEN  WILL  SPEAK  AND  HEAR  THE  GREAT 
IMPERISHABLE  TRUTH. 

The  next  morning  the  Golden  Hearted  called 
his  little  band  of  wise  men  around  him  and  said: 

4 '  In  the  Bundle  of  Wonderful  Things  given  me 
by  Guatamo,  I  find  my  father's  final  command.  It 
imposes  seclusion  upon  me  in  this  spot.  The  temple 
requires  a  central  spire  and  I  shall  build  and  cover 
it  with  pure  gold.  Go  thou  to  the  valley  and  make 
thy  life  apart  from  me.  I  love  thee  well,  and  shall 
miss  thee  sadly,  but  I  have  need  to  be  alone." 

4  *  What  wilt  thou  have  us  do?"  asked  the  son 
of  Guatamo. 

"Go  thou  amongst  thy  fellows  and  teach  them 
the  arts  of  peace.  Show  them  how  to  coax  fertility 
anew  out  of  the  soil,  and  strengthen  civil  power 
until  I  call  thee." 

It  was  several  months  before  the  spire  was 
finished,  and  then  it  required  several  days  to  make 
a  llama  of  beaten  silver  as  an  emblem  of  suffering 
innocence  to  put  on  the  altar.  The  llama  seated 
upon  the  back  of  an  eagle  was  rescuing  a  rabbit 
from  the  fangs  of  a-  rattlesnake. 

"This  quaint  symbol  shall  represent  the  une- 
qual conflict  between  the  good  and  bad  things 
in  life,  but  the  llama  compelling  the  serpent  to  give 
up  its  prey  means  that  good  shall  finally  triumph," 


122  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

said  the  Golden  Hearted,  to  himself,  as  he  put  the 
offering  in  place  on  the  altar. 

' '  I  have  only  a  few  days  more  in  this  beautiful 
spot,  then  must  I  return  to  good  King  Cocomos, 
my  life-long  friend  and  follower.  Well  indeed  has 
he  kept  his  promise  to  me,  and  not  only  are  his 
subjects  blessed  with  all  the  arts  of  civilization,  but 
they  are  a  shining  example  to  other  less  favored 
races.  I  must  offer  a  fitting  sacrifice, "  he  contin- 
ued, "on  this  newly  erected  altar  before  I  go." 

There  were  eight  altars  in  the  temple  on  top 
of  the  pyramid,  and  at  sunset  on  the  last  day  of  his 
stay,  the  Golden  Hearted  placed  the  llama  on  the 
one  facing  the  east.  At  the  same  time  the  son  of 
Guatamo  headed  a  procession  of  wise  men  at  the 
base  of  the  pyramid,  who  slowly  climbed  to  the  top. 
They  performed  sacrifice  on  each  terrace  as  they 
ascended,  and  did  not  reach  the  temple  until 
midnight. 

The  Golden  Hearted  was  alone  in  the  great 
dark  structure  intently  watching  the  constellation 
of  the  Pleiades  directly  overhead.  As  Alcyone,  the 
dim  star  in  the  center  of  the  group,  approached  the 
zenith,  he  sprang  forward  with  a  glad  cry  and  vig- 
orously swinging  a  copper  hammer  made  the 
sparks  fly  from  a  piece  of  flint.  The  son  of  venera- 
ble Guatamo  held  the  bit  of  cotton  over  it  and 
carefully  nursed  the  fire  into  a  blaze.  As  the  light 
streamed  up  toward  the  heavens  shouts  of  joy  and 
triumph  burst  forth: 

"Once  more  the   children  of  men  receive  a 


CHOLULA,    THE    SACRED    CITY  123 

direct  ray  from  the  spiritual  sun !  Awake !  awake ! 
and  hear  the  glad  tidings ! ' ' 

Runners  with  torches  lighted  at  the  blazing 
beacon  sped  in  every  direction  carrying  the  cheer- 
ing element  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  Long  before 
sunrise  it  was  brightening  the  altars  and  hearth- 
stones in  every  house.  The  Golden  Hearted  prayed 
before  the  eastern  altar,  and  then  took  an  affec- 
tionate farewell  of  the  young  priest  of  the  Order 
of  Quetzalcoatl  left  in  charge,  but  before  descend- 
ing, he  gazed  long  at  the  matchless  scenery  below. 
Soft  spring  verdure  lay  on  all  sides,  and  he  drew 
courage  and  inspiration  from  that  fact.  At  the 
foot  of  the  pyramid  he  said : 

"Be  of  good  cheer.  A  long  era  of  peace  and 
prosperity  is  for  thee  and  thine.  Let  this  knowl- 
edge be  thy  secret  refuge  lest  thou  be  tempted  to 
depart  from  the  way.  Grieve  not  for  me,  in  the  full- 
ness of  time  I  will  come  again. " 

Then  he  set  out  for  the  Kingdom  of  Tlapalla, 
accompanied  by  four  youths  of  noble  birth.  At  the 
water 's  edge  he  took  leave  of  them  saying : 

"  Guard  well  the  temple  and  the  sacred  fires, 
for  when  I  come  again,  I  will  bring  disciples  with 
me  who  shall  possess  and  rule  the  land." 

When  the  four  youths  returned  to  Cholula  and 
told  all  their  master  had  said  to  them,  the  people 
divided  their  province  into  four  principalities  and 
gave  the  government  to  the  four  young  nobles.  Ever 
after,  four  of  the  descendants  of  these  youths  con- 
tinued to  rule  as  priests  of  the  Order  of  Quetzal- 
coatl in  the  sacred  city  until  the  Spaniards  came, 


THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 


which  we  will  know  all  about  when  we  read  the 
story  of  " El  Dorado,  the  Golden." 

One  of  the  first  things  done  by  the  noble  youths 
when  they  became  rulers  was  to  make  a  statue  of 
the  Golden  Hearted  in  a  reclining  position,  because 
they  said  that  he  had  gone  to  sleep  in  the  bosom 
of  the  sun.  When  the  wind  blew  they  said  he  was 
sweeping  the  roads,  and  that  he  was  the  god  of  fer- 
tility. Not  any  place  else  in  the  new  world  was 
there  so  much  reverence  and  respect  paid  to  a  statue 
as  to  this  one  of  the  Golden  Hearted  which  was  for 
ages  kept  in  the  temple  he  built  on  the  top  of  the 
pyramid.  For  hundreds  of  miles  around  people 
came  to  do  reverence  to  it,  and  even  if  it  did  have 
a  black  face,  the  ancient  Aztecs  always  called  him 
their -"Fair  God."  And  to  this  day  the  calendar 
stone  and  many  other  wonderful  things  in  Mexico 
are  said  to  have  been  made  by  him. 


Tulla,  the  Hiding  Nook  of  the  Snake 

0  doubt  you  remember  that  the 
wise  men  built  a  Dark  House  in 
Nachan  to  hold  the  National  Book, 
and  such  other  treasures  as  the  Golden 
Hearted  did  not  wish  to  carry  with 
him.  And  you  also  remember  that 
he  left  a  number  of  wise  men  in 
charge,  and  that  he  promised  to  return.  The 
great  pyramid  at  Cholula  was  not  all  finished, 
but  it  was  far  enough  along  so  he  could  leave 
the  son  of  Guatamo  to  go  on  with  the  work 
while  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  old  friends  in  Nachan. 
When  he  arrived  there,  he  found  a  splendid 
city  having  whole  houses  of  silver,  others  of  tur- 
quoise, some  of  white  and  red  shells  and  some  of 
rich  feathers.  Cotton  grew  there  in  all  colors,  so 
it  was  not  necessary  to  dye  it,  and  the  people  were 
rich  and  prosperous.  A  great  and  mighty  king 
ruled  them,  but  he  finally  grew  jealous  because  the 
people  seemed  to  think  that  all  their  good  fortune 
came  from  obeying  the  commands  given  them  by 
the  Golden  Hearted  when  he  visited  them  as  a 
mere  youth. 


126  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

They  did  everything  in  their  power  to  honor 
the  good  prince.  When  he  promulgated  a  new 
law,  they  ran  to  the  mountain  tops  and  proclaimed 
it  in  a  loud  voice,  and  then  the  swift-footed  cou- 
riers dashed  through  the  country  with  lighted 
torches  and  repeated  it  to  every  one  they  met.  One 
day  a  young  man  came  to  him  and  said : 

"Good  prince,  be  on  your  guard.  The  king 
no  longer  loves  you." 

"Why  do  you  say  this  to  me!"  asked  the 
Golden  Hearted. 

"Because  I  know  he  plots  to  injure  you.  He. 
is  angry  because  you  are  helping  the  wise  men 
build  Tulla.  He  calls  it  the  Hiding  Nook  of  the 
Snake  to  show  contempt  for  you." 

"Again  I  ask  why  do  you  say  such  things  to 
me?"  There  was  so  much  reproach  in  the  tones 
of  the  voice  of  the  Golden  Hearted  that  the  young 
man  hung  his  head  and  stammered: 

* '  Forgive  me,  but  I  wanted  you  to  know  there 
is  danger  for  you  here,  and  I  am  ready  to  serve  you 
faithfully." 

The  Golden  Hearted  made  no  reply,  but  tak- 
ing a  thoroughly-dried  cactus  needle  from  a  shelf, 
stuck  it  through  his  ears  and  was  beginning  to 
pierce  his  tongue  when  the  young  man  sprang  for- 
ward and  caught  his  hand. 

"Why,  good  prince,"  he  cried  in  a  startled 
voice,  "do  you  maltreat  your  poor  ears  and  tongue! 
It  is  I  who  have  spoken  evil,  not  you." 

* '  But  I  listened,  and  that  is  an  offense  against 


TULLA,  HIDING  NOOK  OF  THE  SNAKE    127 

the  Good  Law.  Do  you  think  I  will  not  punish 
myself  for  disobedience!" 

* i  Oh, ' '  said  the  young  man,  with  tears  stream- 
ing down  his  face,  "the  sight  of  blood  makes  my 
heart  ache,  and  I,  too,  will  be  punished. ' '  And  with 
that  he  stuck  cactus  needles  through  his  ears  and 
tongue. 

"My  friend,"  said  the  Golden  Hearted,  "I 
thank  you  for  your  kind  thought  of  me,  but  I  must 
beautify  Tulla  even  if  it  does  displease  the  king, 
and  he  is  right  in  calling  it  the  Hiding  Nook  of  the 
Snake,  because  it  will  be  a  treasure-house  of  the 
wisdom  inherited  from  the  philosophers  and  wise 
men  of  your  race.  You  should  always  bear  in  mind 
that  a  serpent  is  a  symbol  of  wisdom,  and  not  a 
thing  to  despise.  The  king  compliments  me,  even 
though  he  knows  it  not." 

The  young  man  went  out  of  the  room  with  the 
thorns  still  sticking  in  his  ears,  .and  when  he  spat 
blood,  his  companions  said : 

"Why  does  your  mouth  bleed?"  and  he 
answered : 

"Because  I  have  been  speaking  evil  of  some 
one." 

"Open  your  mouth  and  let  us  see,"  they  said. 

"It  is  only  needful  to  examine  the  tongue.  I 
have  pierced  it  with  the  sharp  needle  of  the  cactus. ' ' 

i  i  Who  gave  you  leave  to  do  such  a  thing  ? ' ' 

"No  one,"  he  answered,  "but  when  the  Good 
Prince  inflicted  that  penalty  on  himself  for  merely 
hearing  what  I  said,  I  could  do  no  less  than  follow 
his  example." 


128  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

''And  we  will  do  likewise,"  they  said,  and  in 
after  years,  every  devotee  of  the  teachings  of  the 
Golden  Hearted  punished  himself  in  this  manner 
for  evil  speaking  or  listening  to  others  saying 
unkind  things  of  a  fellow  creature. 

Of  course  we  know  that  the  king  really  was 
jealous  of  the  Golden  Hearted,  and  was  determined 
that  he  should  not  stay  long  in  Tulla,  which  bade 
fair  to  rival  his  own  city  with  which  it  was  connected 
by  the  secret  passageway  containing  the  Dark 
House.  During  the  years  of  his  absence,  the  wise 
men  left  in  Nachan  had  been  at  work  on  this  won- 
derful city,  and  it  was  very  beautiful  indeed,  even 
before  the  Golden  Hearted  saw  it  at  all.  When  he 
came  the  inhabitants  received  him  with  great 
rejoicing,  and  then  the  king  of  Nachan  began  to  be 
afraid  that  he  would  have  too  great  a  following. 

The  king  had  no  excuse  to  fight  the  Golden 
Hearted,  because  he  always  put  his  fingers  in  his 
ears  when  they  talked  of  war  in  his  presence,  and 
under  no  circumstances  would  he  have  been  made 
king  himself.  He  only  wanted  to  teach  and  help 
the  people  in  a  peaceable  and  kind  way. 

The  king  knew  all  this,  but  he  was  uneasy  and 
wanted  the  Golden  Hearted  to  go  away.  So  he 
hired  a  native  wizard  to  play  a  cunning  trick  upon 
the  Golden  Hearted.  Disguising  himself  as  one  of 
the  wise  men,  the  wizard  went  to  his  house  and  said 
to  his  servant : 

1 '  I  wish  to  see  and  speak  to  your  master. ' ' 

"Go  away,  old  man,  you  cannot  see  the  prince 


TULLA,  HIDING  NOOK  OF  THE  SNAKE    129 

for  he  is  sick.  You  will  annoy  him  and  cause  him 
heaviness. ' ' 

' l  But  I  must  see  him, ' '  persisted  the  pretended 
old  man. 

* '  Wait  a  moment  and  I  will  ask  him, ' '  said  the 
servant,  and  he  went  and  told  the  Golden  Hearted 
that  a  strange  old  man  was  determined  to  see  him. 

"Let  him  come  in,"  said  the  sick  man. 

Tottering  up  to  the  bedside  as  if  he  were  very 
feeble,  the  intruder  said  with  well-feigned 
sympathy : 

"How  are  you,  my  lord!  Here  is  a  medicine  I 
have  brought  for  you." 


HERE    IS   MEDICINE   FOR    YOU 


1HO  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

1  i  You  are  welcome ;  I  have  been  expecting  you 
for  many  days,"  and  the  Golden  Hearted  held  out 
his  hand  in  a  friendly  manner. 

* '  How  is  your  body,  and  how  is  your  health  f ' ' 
again  asked  the  visitor,  seating  himself  by  the 
bedside. 

"I  am  exceedingly  sick.  All  my  body  is  in 
pain,  and  I  cannot  move  my  hands  nor  my  feet." 

"The  medicine  I  have  is  good  and  wholesome. 
If  you  will  drink  it  you  will  be  healed  and  eased  at 
heart."  As  he  said  this,  the  wizard  held  up  a  small 
silver  cup  and  put  a  white  powder  in  it.  "Drink 
this  and  you  will  then  have  in  mind  the  toils  and 
fatigues  of  death,  and  of  your  departure. ' ' 

"Where  have  I  to  go!"  cried  his  listener  in 
surprise. 

"To  Tlapalla  (which  was  their  name  for  the 
Happy  Island),  where  The  Old  Man  of  the  Sea  is 
waiting  for  you.  He  has  much  to  tell  you,  and  when 
you  return  you  will  be  young  and  handsome. 
Indeed  you  will  be  a  mere  boy  again."  Seeing  that 
the  Golden  Hearted  merely  stared  at  him,  he  said : 
' '  Sir,  drink  this  medicine. ' ' 

But  the  sick  man  did  not  wish  to  do  so. 

"Drink,  my  lord,  or  you  will  be  sorry  for  it 
hereafter,"  urged  the  wizard. 

4 '  No,  no ;  I  will  not  drink  it. ' ' 

"At  least  rub  some  on  your  brow  and  taste  a 
sip. ' '  So  the  Golden  Hearted  drank  a  little  to  try 
it,  saying: 

"What  is  this?     It  seems  to  be  a  thing  very 


TULLA,  HIDING  NOOK  OF  THE  SNAKE    131 

good  and  savory.  Already  I  feel  myself  healed.  I 
am  well." 

i 'Drink  some  more,  my  lord,  since  it  is  good. 
The  more  you  drink,  the  better  you  will  feel." 

The  sick  man  swallowed  considerable  more 
and  then  he  was  drunk.  It  was  not  medicine  at  all 
that  the  wizard  gave  him,  but  a  white  wine  made 
from  the  maguey  plant  and  the  powder  he  put  in  it 
was  to  make  the  Golden  Hearted  believe  that  he 
must  go  away. 

For  days  after  he  was  very  sad  and  wept  con- 
tinuously, but  he  began  to  get  ready  to  leave  Tulla. 
No  matter  what  was  said  to  dissuade  him,  he  could 
never  get  rid  of  the  idea  that  he  must  take  all  of  his 
followers  and  go  as  quickly  as  possible. 

The  wise  men,  seeing  that  he  was  determined, 
gathered  up  all  the  picture  writings  they  had  made 
as  a  record  of  their  journeys,  and  putting  them  into 
an  ark,  carried  it  swung  on  a  pole  with  them. 
Before  leaving,  they  called  the  people  together  and 
said: 

"Know  that  the  Golden  Hearted  commands 
you  to  remain  here  in  these  lands  of  which  he  makes 
you  master  and  gives  you  possession.  He  goes  to 
the  place  whence  he  and  we  came,  but  he  will  return 
to  visit  you  when  it  shall  be  time  for  the  world  to 
come  to  an  end.  You  must  await  him  in  these  lands, 
possessing  them  and  all  contained  in  them  since  for 
this  purpose  came  we  hither.  Remain,  therefore, 
for  we  go  with  the  Golden  Hearted." 


The  Departure  of  the  Golden 
Hearted 

e  poisoned  wine  worked  in  the 
brain  of  the   Golden  Hearted 
and   caused  him   to   do   many 
singular    things.      For    instance    he 
burned  all  the  beautiful  houses  built 
for  him  by  the  wise  men  and  ordered 
much  of  his  treasure  to  be  buried  in 
the  mountains  and  ravines.     When  he 
left  Tulla,  he  took  all  the  bright-plumaged  singing 
birds  with  him,  and  would  only  allow  nineteen  of 
the  wise  men  to  go  with  him. 

Two  of  these  knew  all  about  fishing,  and  two 
knew  about  farming,  and  one  was  a  weather  prophet 
who  studied  the  clouds  and  winds,  and  could  foretell 
storms,  while  all  the  rest  were  priests  who  kindled 
the  sacred  fires  and  taught  the  people  the  Good 
Law. 

As  soon  as  the  King  of  Tulla  found  he  was 
leaving,  he  took  an  army  and  followed  after  him, 
laying  the  country  waste  and  taking  captive  as 
many  of  the  people  as  he  could  find. 


THE    DEPARTURE  133 

'  *  Good  prince,  why  do  you  not  let  us  make  war 
upon  your  and  our  enemy  f"  the  warriors  often 
asked  him,  but  he  always  put  his  fingers  in  his  ears 
and  replied  sadly: 

"You  do  not  understand  the  Good  Law,  my 
friend.  The  only  way  to  overcome  hate  is  with 
love.  It  is  fully  time  for  me  to  return  to  Tlapalla. ' ' 

He  traveled  on  until  he  came  to  a  place  where 
there  was  a  great  tree,  high  and  very  thick.  Here 
he  sat  down  to  rest. 

"Bring  me  a  mirror,"  he  said  to  his  servant, 
and  when  he  saw  his  face  reflected  in  it,  he  cried 
out: 

' '  Take  it  away.  I  am  already  old. ' '  Then  the 
wise  men  knew  that  the  drug  in  the  wine  was  mak- 
ing him  mad  again  and  they  did  not  try  to  hinder 
him  when  he  began  throwing  stones  at  the  tree. 

"I  will  make  these  stones  stick  into  your  bark 
until  you  look  like  a  porcupine  and  the  wind  cannot 
blow  them  out, ' '  he  said,  and  for  a  long,  long  time, 
the  tree  was  pointed  out  to  travelers  as  being 
enchanted,  because  the  god  of  wind  had  hurled  his 
wrathful  breath  upon  it.  From  all  accounts  the 
tree  was  full  of  sharp  rocks  from  top  to  bottom  and 
must  have  looked  very  queer  indeed. 

The  flute  players  tried  to  divert  his  attention 
as  they  marched  along  the  wood,  but  he  was  very 
weary  and  finally  sat  down  to  rest  on  a  stone  by  the 
roadside. 

"0,  Thou  of  infinite  mercy  and  compassion, 
dry  the  hot  tears  that  flood  and  burn  my  face, ' '  he 


134  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

said  brokenly  as  he  looked  toward  Tulla.  People 
now  say  that  his  tears  marked  and  ate  into  the 
stone,  and  that  the  print  of  his  hands  is  still  to  be 
found  on  it. 

After  he  had  reached  a  very  wide  river  and 
had  commanded  his  followers  to  help  build  a  bridge 
across  it,  he  was  met  by  some  men  who  tried  to  stop 
him. 

"Where  are  you  going?"  they  asked,  "and 
why  do  you  leave  your  city!  To  whose  care  will 
you  commend  it,  and  who  will  do  penance  in  it?" 
The  Golden  Hearted  answered  them  firmly: 

t  i  You  can  in  no  wTise  hinder  me,  for  I  must  go. ' ' 

"But  where  are  you  going!"  they  insisted. 

"To  Tlapalla,"  he  answered. 

"For  what  purpose  are  you  going!" 

' '  The  sun  calls  me, ' '  he  said. 

"Go  then,"  they  replied,  "but  leave  behind  all 
the  mechanical  arts,  the  melting  of  silver,  the 
working  of  precious  stones  and  of  masonry, 
picture  writing,  feather  work  and  other  crafts." 
And  then  they  would  have  robbed  him,  but  he 
threw  all  his  rich  jewels  into  a  fountain.  Among 
his  tormentors  was  the  pretended  old  wizard  who 
tried  to  induce  him  to  drink  more  wine. 

"No,  I  can  not  drink  it.  I  can  not  even  taste 
it  again,"  he  said,  and  that  night  in  his  sleep  he 
turned  his  head  from  side  to  side  and  tore  his  hair 
with  his  hands. 

The  next  morning  in  passing  between  a  vol- 
cano and  the  snowy  mountain  tops,  all  his  servants 


THE    DEPARTURE  135 

being  hunchbacked,  died  of  cold,  and  he  had  no  way 
to  get  down  the  steep  mountain  side  except  to  slide 
in  a  squatting  position  with  his  feet  close  together. 

In  one  place  he  stopped  and  built  a  square 
stone  court  for  ball  play,  and  taught  the  people  how 
to  play  the  game.  Now  it  is  said  that  he  drew  a  line 
through  the  center  of  the  court,  and  that  made  the 
deep  gash  in  the  mountains  still  to  be  seen. 

In  another  place  he  threw  a  dart  at  a  tree  and 
pierced  it  in  such  a  manner  that  it  looked  like  a 
cross,  and  after  that  a  cross  was  called  "The  Tree 
of  Our  Life, ' '  in  memory  of  this  event.  Some  say 
that  he  built  houses  with  certain  underground 
passageways  where  he  hid  picture  writing  and 
records  of  his  teachings,  and  just  before  arriving 
at  the  water's  edge,  he  set  up  and  balanced  a  great 
stone  so  that  it  could  be  moved  with  one's  little 
finger,  but  a  whole  multitude  could  not  displace  it. 

No  doubt  you  remember  the  village  chief  where 
the  Golden  Hearted  went  when  he  first  arrived  from 
the  Happy  Island,  and  also  that  he  sent  this  chief 
a  cross  with  a  hand  in  the  center.  Now  that  he 
was  going  home  again,  the  Golden  Hearted  thought 
he  would  visit  the  chief  and  see  how  he  and  his 
people  were  progressing. 

Imagine  his  surprise  in  finding  that  they  had 
dedicated  a  temple  to  him,  and  that  in  the  middle 
of  the  square  tower  was  a  terra  cotta  statue  of  him- 
self dressed  as  a  warrior  holding  an  arrow  in  his 
hand,  and  because  the  statue  was  hollow  they 
thought  it  was  an  oracle.  His  name  in  their  language 


1M          THE    STORIES    OF    ED    DORADO 

was  Cukulcan,  but  the  common  people  called 
him  "The  Working  Hand/7  and  had  great  respect 
for  a  huge  stone  cross  erected  in  the  turreted  court- 
yard in  front  of  the  temple,  which  had  a  big  red 
hand  in  the  center. 

When  the  Golden  Hearted  went  among  the  peo- 
ple, he  found  that  they  remembered  everything  he 
had  told  them,  and  that  on  the  anniversary  of  his 
coming  great  crowds  of  people  came  on  a  pilgrim- 
age to  the  oracle  statue  in  the  temple.  It  did  no 
good  for  him  to  tell  them  that  he  was  simply  an 
elder  brother  and  teacher  come  to  give  them  aid  in 
a  simple,  kindly  way.  They  believed  he  was  sent 
by  God,  and  for  ages  after  the  people  made  pil- 
grimages to  this  shrine,  and  held  it  in  very  great 
esteem. 

Realizing  that  it  was  time  for  him  to  go  down 
to  the  sea  coast  among  the  fishermen  he  had  first 
seen,  he  went  to  the  temple  service  one  morning, 
and  after  praying  before  the  altar,  picked  up  a 
sacred  Tunkel  and  sang  them  a  prophetic  song  of 
farewell : 

"Ye  men  of  Itza  hearken  to  the  tidings 

Listen  to  the  forecast  of  this  cycle's  end, 

Four  have  been  the  ages  of  the  world's  progressing 

Now  the  fourth  is  ending  and  its  end  is  near, 

A  mighty  lord  is  coming,  see  you  give  him  honor, 

A  potent  lord  approaches  to  whom  all  must  bow 

I,  the  prophet,  warn  you,  keep  in  mind  my  boding, 

Men  of  Itza  mark  it,  and  await  your  lord." 


l:*8          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

"Waste  not  your  time  in  idle  repining,"  he 
said  in  farewell,  "I  go  for  purification,  but  will 
surely  come  again." 

He  only  spent  time  enough  on  the  seashore  to 
build  and  provision  a  balsa,  or  boat  with  sails,  and 
then  he  said  "good  bye"  to  the  fisherfolk,  and 
sailed  away  toward  the  east  with  a  few  of  the  wise 
men  for  companions.  Just  before  he  stepped  into 
the  boat  he  turned  to  the  wise  men,  who  were  to 
remain  and  said : 

"It  wrings  my  heart  to  part  from  you,  but 
there  is  need  for  you  to  stay  here  in  order  to  com- 
plete the  tasks  already  begun."  As  he  embraced 
and  kissed  each  one  on  the  cheek  he  named  their 
special  duty,  and  had  no  fear  that  his  orders  would 
not  be  fully  carried  out. 

i  i  You  must  go  'to  the  son  of  Guatamo,  and  tell 
him  my  work  is  finished." 

To  another  he  said : 

"You  must  go  about  and  teach  in  my  stead. 
I  will  come  again,  but  at  another  time." 

It  was  difficult  for  him  to  persuade  the  fisher- 
man not  to  accompany  him. 

"Have  no  fear.  Mine  is  a  staunch  bark  capa- 
ble of  riding  the  storm  and  stress  of  the  angry  sea. 
Farewell,  beloved,  I  will  return  to  you,  when  the 
time  and  seasons  are  propitious." 

The  people  on  shore  turned  again  and  again 
to  throw  kisses  to  him,  while  the  fishermen  in  their 
little  boats  put  out  to  sea  with  him,  and  strained 
their  vision  to  catch  a  last  glimpse  of  his  flower- 
laden  balsa. 


THE    DEPARTURE  139 

The  wise  men  and  priests  in  the  temples  where- 
ever  he  had  been,  began  at  once  to  guard  the  sacred 
fires  and  to  watch  and  pray  for  his  safe  return. 
Lest  they  should  forget  his  sayings  they  engraved 
them  on  stone,  and  taught  them  to  the  people  so 
that  his  name  was  a  household  word  for  genera- 
tions. His  was  the  only  civilization  known  in  the 
Americas  before  the  advent  of  the  white  men. 


THE    SNAKE-SKIN     CANOE  ' 


El   Dorado,   the    Golden 

have  read  somewhere  that  "in  1492 
Columbus  sailed  the  waters  blue, ' '  and  we 
know  that  the  big  Exposition  held  in  Chi- 
cago in  1893  was  to  commemorate  the  four  hun- 
dredth anniversary  of  the  discovery  of  America, 
but  no  one  can  possibly  tell  how  long  it  was  after 
the  Golden  Hearted  sailed  away,  until  Columbus 
came. 

And  nobody  knows  where  the  Golden  Hearted 
went. 

He  said  he  was  going  to  Tlapalla,  which  we 
know  meant  the  Happy  Island,  but  no  one  can  find 
it  any  more,  and  there  are  traditions  which  say  that 
the  island,  with  all  its  inhabitants,  sank  in  the 
ocean.  This  may  be  why  the  Golden  Hearted  never 
came  back  again.  Of  course  the  wise  men  and  the 
primitive  people  in  the  Americas  believed  that 
he  would  return  because  he  said  he  would,  and 
they  watched  and  waited  all  the  long  years  from 
one  generation  to  another.  Many  times  bright  and 
promising  young  men,  just  out  of  the  universities, 
or  fresh  from  victories  on  the  battle  fields,  would 
take  the  vows  of  a  priest,  and  give  up  all  their  hopes 


EL    DORADO,    THE    GOLDEN  141 

and  ambitions  to  serve  in  the  temples  erected  in 
honor  of  the  Golden  Hearted.  They  did  not  know 
anything  more  about  him  than  we  do,  but  they  had 
faith  in  him. 

They  said: 

"All  the  good  we  know  comes  from  him,  and 
when  he  returns  all  wrongs  will  be  righted  and 
every  heart  made  to  rejoice.  He  will  give  us  every- 
thing we  wish  for. ' ' 

Several  times  during  the  year  whole  nations 
would  fast  and  do  severe  penance  to  induce  him 
to  come  quickly.  Not  one  of  them  could  be  made 
to  believe  that  he  was  dead. 

i  i  No,  no, ' '  they  said, ' '  he  is  asleep  in  the  bosom 
of  the  sun.  He  will  surely  come  again;  he  prom- 
ised us  he  would." 

Then  they  would  get  the  idea  that  he  was 
offended,  and  the  kings  would  order  great  sacrifice 
to  be  made  to  appease  him.  In  some  places  I  am 
sorry  to  say  they  offered  the  quivering,  bleeding 
hearts  of  human  beings  by  the  hundreds,  but  still 
he  did  not  come.  In  other  places  they  remembered 
his  gentleness  and  only  laid  fruit,  flowers  and  per- 
fumes on  the  sacred  fire  altars  which  they  still  kept 
burning.  There  were  many  places  where  they  care- 
fully preserved  his  sayings  by  cutting  them  in  sign 
language  on  the  stones  of  the  temples,  and  every 
child  was  taught  to  imitate  his  virtues  and  follow 
his  example. 

For  several  years  before  Columbus  arrived 
the  priests  and  wise  men  had  been  prophesying 


142  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

that  the  Golden  Hearted  was  soon  to  return,  that 
the  sun  was  bringing  him  back,  accompanied  by 
companions  like  himself,  who  would  rule  over  them. 
Not  even  the  great-great-grandfathers  of  the  men 
then  living  had  seen  the  Golden  Hearted,  so  they 
did  not  know  how  he  looked,  but  their  traditions 
said  that  he  was  a  bearded  white  man,  and  we  shall 
see  by  and  by  what  a  curious  mistake  this  led  them 
to  make  about  the  first  white  men  who  came  to  them 
after  the  discovery  of  America. 

Before  we  can  understand  how  such  things 
could  happen,  we  must  remember  that  the  people  in 
Europe  did  not  know  there  was  an  America,  and 
that  many  of  them  had  very  queer  ideas  about  the 
shape  of  the  earth.  Some  said  it  was  four-cornered 
and  square  like  a  dry  goods  box,  and  others  thought 
it  was  round  and  flat  like  a  plate,  surrounded  by 
water  which  finally  changed  into  vapor  and  mist, 
and  that  whoever  ventured  far  out  into  the  misty 
clouds  fell  through  and  went— heaven  knows  where ! 

In  the  quaint  old  Italian  city  of  Genoa  was 
born  a  little  boy  named  Christopher  Columbus,  who 
was  to  change  all  this,  and  be  the  innocent  cause  of 
much  suffering  to  the  descendants  of  the  races  who 
had  been  visited  by  the  Golden  Hearted.  When  a 
mere  lad  at  school,  he  was  greatly  interested  in 
boats,  and  he  not  only  studied  geography  and  his- 
tory, but  read  all  the  books  of  travel  he  could  find, 
and  dreamed  night  and  day  of  a  great  long  voyage 
he  was  going  to  make  on  the  ocean  some  time.  He  did 
not  waste  his  time  fishing  and  playing  on  the  beach 


EL    DORADO,    THE    GOLDEN  143 

like  other  boys,  but  picked  up  the  chips  that  washed 
ashore  and  examined  them  very  carefully,  because 
he  believed  that  if  there  was  an  unknown  land  some 
vvhtre  in  the  west,  that  the  waves  would  bring  some- 
thing ashore  from  there.  He  was  really  quite  an  old 
man  before  he  found  anything,  but  one  day  he 
picked  up  some  strange  chips  at  Cadiz  that  had  been 
cut  by  hand,  and  then  he  knew  he  was  right. 

Sailors  always  do  have  wonderful  tales  to  tell 
about  the  sea,  and  in  those  days  they  were  so  super- 
stitious that  they  w^ere  sure  that  there  were  huge 
li'onsters  living  in  the  distant  waters  just  waiting 
to  eat  up  any  sailor  foolish  enough  to  venture  near 
them.  There  was  not  one  of  them  willing  to  listen 
to  Columbus,  when  he  tried  to  explain  that  the 
en1,  th  is  round  like  an  orange,  and  that  we  live  on 
the  outside  of  it.  He  said  to  them  repeatedly : 

"If  we  sail  west  steadily,  we  shall  in  time 
arrive  back  at  the  place  from  which  we  started." 
Finally,  riot  only  the  sailors,  but  the  people  in  the 
streets  pointed  their  fingers  at  him  and  said : 

"There  goes  the  crazy  old  man,  who  thinks  the 
world  is  as  round  as  an  apple/' 

The  more  he  talked  and  reasoned  and  argued 
and  even  drew  maps  to  prove  that  he  was  right, 
the  more  everybody  shook  their  heads  and  called 
him  crazy. 

Columbus  was  about  to  give  up  in  despair 
because  he  was  very  poor,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
no  way  by  which  he  could  demonstrate  that  Ms 
theory  of  the  shape  of  the  earth  was  correct. 

And  now  comes  a  curious  coincidence. 


144          THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DOliADO 

He  was  a  very  devout  Christian,  and  felt  cer- 
tain that  the  inhabitants  of  this  strange  country 
in  the  west  had  never  heard  of  our  God  nor  of  his 
beloved  son  Jesus,  and  his  heart  was  fired  with  zeal 
to  reach  these  poor  heathens  and  tell  them  the  story 
of  the  Christ. 

About  this  time  some  influential  friend  secured 
<m  audience  for  him  with  the  King  of  Portugal,  but 
it  did  no  jjrood  to  tell  his  story  to  the  rich  monarch, 
who  was  neither  of  a  scientific  nor  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  he  might  as  well  have  talked  to  the  wind. 
Utterly  discouraged  Columbus  decided  to  go  to 
Spain,  which  is  a  near  neighbor  of  Portugal,  and 
see  if  he  could  not  induce  the  famous  King  Fer- 
dinand and  Isabella,  the  queen,  to  give  him  boats 
to  make  his  longed-for  voyage.  The  queen  espe- 
cially was  very  pious  and  was  much  interested  in 
Columbus'  story  about  the  heathens,  but  the  minis- 
ters of  her  court  laughed  at  Columbus  and  said : 

"It  is  a  foolish  dream  which  can  never  be 
carried  out." 

Almost  heart-broken  Columbus  silently  turned 
his  back  on  the  Spanish  capital  and  walked  a  long 
way  to  a  seaport  called  Palos,  where  there  was  a 
queer  old  convent  in  which  strangers  were  made 
welcome  by  the  kind  monks  living  in  it.  Knocking 
upon  the  gate,  he  said  to  the  porter: 

"Will  you  please  give  me  a  bit  of  bread  and  a 
drink  of  water." 

Fortunately,  the  prior,  a  learned  man  and  an 
intimate  friend  of  Queen  Isabella  came  along,  and 


EL    DOKADO,    THE    GOLDEN  145 

was  quick  to  see  that  Columbus  was  no  common 
beggar.  He  invited  him  in,  and  after  listening  qui- 
etiy  and  thoughtfully  to  his  visitor's  plan  of  cross- 
ing the  ocean  to  convert  the  heathen  to  Christianity, 
he  borrowed  a  mule  and  rode  miles  across  the 
country  to  the  castle  where  the  Queen  was  staying 
and  persuaded  her  to  help  Columbus. 

"It  is  your  duty,"  he  said.  "God  has  given 
you  riches  and  many  blessings  that  you  may 
assist  your  fellow  men,  and  these  strange  people 
know  nothing  of  our  God,  and  they  need  teachers 
to  help  them  find  the  right  way  of  living." 

Queen  Isabella  was  so  impressed  with  what 
he  said  that  she  immediately  petitioned  the  Royal 
Treasurer  to  give  Columbus  money  to  make  his 
voyage  of  discovery. 

"Your  majesty,  there  is  no  money  to  spare," 
was  the  polite  answer  of  the  Treasurer,  who,  like 
all  the  rest  of  the  court,  thought  Columbus  was  a 
--Visionary  dreamer  if  not  crazy. 

"Very  well,"  she  said.  "I  will  pawn  my 
crown  jewels, "  and  she  did.  This  was  a  most  noble 
and  courageous  act  on  her  part,  for  a  queen  in 
those  days  was  scarcely  considered  dignified  or 
respectable  without  splendid  crown  jewels  to  wear 
on  public  occasions,  but  she  was  bent  upon  sending 
the  gospel  of  Christ  to  the  heathen  in  America.  Does 
it  not  seem  strange  that  the  Golden  Hearted  and 
the  Queen  of  Spain  should  be  credited  with  the 
same  desire  to  help  the  people  of  the  Americas, 


146  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

and  that  they  lived  hundreds  of  years  apart  and 
could  never  have  known  of  each  other,  and  that  one 
incident  is  a  fact  of  history  and  the  other  only  a 
legend! 

But  as  soon  as  Columbus  secured  the  money 
another  difficulty  arose.  No  sailor  could  be  found 
who  would  risk  his  life  on  an  unknown  sea  with 
such  a  crazy  old  man.  Finally  Queen  Isabella  had 
to  promise  liberty  and  full  pardon  to  the  convicts 
in  the  prisons  before  Columbus  could  get  any  one 
to  go  with  him.  It  was  a  terrible  thing  for  him 
but  he  had  a  brave  heart,  and  the  monks  from  the 
convent  at  Palos  sent  some  of  their  number  with 
him  to  teach  the  natives. 

On  and  on,  the  three  caravels,  the  Santa  Maria, 
the  Pinta  and  Nina,  sailed  without  finding  land, 
until  their  provisions  were  getting  low  and  the 
crews  of  convicts  were  about  to  mutiny  and  kill 
Columbus.  In  order  to  keep  them  quiet  he  told  them 
wonderful  stories  of  the  riches  of  this  land  they 
were  trying  to  find. 

"You  can  have  all  the  gold,  and  silver,  and 
precious  gems  you  can  carry,"  he  promised  them. 
In  an  instant  you  could  see  the  cunning  and  greed 
in  their  wicked  faces.  They  did  not  care  whether 
the  earth  was  round  or  flat,  nor  what  became  of  the 
natives,  if  they  only  had  gold,  and  then  they  would 
gather  around  Columbus  and  question  him  closely 
about  the  size  of  the  nuggets  and  precious  stones. 
Of  course  he  could  only  guess  at  it,  but  he  knew 
that  to  save  his  life  he  must  say  something,  so  he 
replied : 


I 


148  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

' '  I  firmly  believe  that  there  are  immense  pieces 
of  solid  gold  to  be  found  there,  and  that  it  is 
abundant. ' ' 

Some  thought  they  would  find  it  in  lumps  as 
big  as  a  house,  and  they  all  expected  to  pick  up 
hands  full  of  gems  just  anywhere.  Columbus  had 
strained  his  eyes  looking  for  the  land  until  he  was 
nearly  blind,  but  one  night  he  imagined  he  saw  a 
glimmer  of  light  ahead.  Where  there  was  light 
there  must  be  land,  he  thought.  So  he  called  one 
of  the  sailors  to  him  and  asked  him  what  he  saw. 

"A  light!  a  light!"  cried  the  sailor  joyfully. 
But  it  was  not  until  nearly  two  o  'clock  in  the  morn- 


LAND!   LAND  AHEAD! 


EL   DORADO,    THE    GOLDEN  149 

ing  that  the  commander  of  one  of  the  other  boats 
started  the  cry : 

"Land!    Land  ahead !" 

You  can  imagine  what  excitement  there  was 
on  all  the  caravels,  and  how  thankful  Columbus 
was.  The  padres  gathered  around  him,  and  as  he 
sprang  ashore,  he  dropped  on  his  knees  and  stooped 
and  kissed  the  ground.  Even  the  sailors  forgot 
about  the  gold  while  he  and  the  padres  prayed  and 
thanked  God  for  giving  mankind  a  new  world. 

Immediately  the  flag  of  Spain  was  planted  and 
the  land  claimed  for  King  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
but  wonderful  indeed  were  the  things  surrounding 
them.  Men  and  women  of  a  bronze  color  crowded 
around  them  and  offered  them  strange,  but  deli- 
cious fruits  and  flowers  and  brought  them  food  and 
water.  In  his  first  letter  to  Queen  Isabella,  Colum- 
bus said  of  them : 

"There  is  not  in  all  the  world  a  better  people 
nor  a  better  land.  Their  converse  is  ever  sweet 
and  gentle,  and  is  accompanied  by  a  smile.  They 
truly  love  their  neighbor  as  themselves. ' ' 

Finding  them  docile  and  kind  the  padres  set 
about  teaching  them,  and  the  simple  natives  were 
very  willing  listeners.  It  was  quite  a  long  time 
before  they  could  understand  each  other  well,  but 
the  padres  told  the  story  of  the  Christ  the  first  time 
they  held  a  service,  which  was  on  a  Sunday. 
Remembering  the  precepts  of  the  Golden  Hearted, 
the  faces  of  the  natives  lighted  up  understandingly 
when  they  heard  the  words  of  Jesus  which  bade 


150 


THE    STORIES    0$    EL   DOEADO 


them  be  loving  and  kind  to  each  other,  and  they 
nodded  their  heads  and  exclaimed: 

1 '  El  Dorado !    El  Dorado ! ' ' 

At  least  that  is  what  the  ignorant  convict  sail- 
ors thought  they  said.  The  words  "El  Dorado " 
in  Spanish,  which  was  their  mother  tongue,  meant 
<  <  The  Golden, "  or  "  The  Gilded  One. ' '  We  know 
they  were  eager  and  greedy  to  find  gold  and 
that  they  had  been  told  to  help  themselves  freely 
to  all  they  could  get,  so  they  immediately  began 
to  question  the  simple  natives. 

*  *  Yes,  yes ;  we  have  plenty  of  gold, ' '  the  natives 
said,  in  surprise,  because  they  did  not  value  it  at 
all,  except  for  ornaments,  and  they  ran  to  fetch 
some  for  their  visitors.  When  they  saw  how  glad 
it  made  the  sailors,  they  were  happy  and  content 
as  a  lot  of  children,  and  they  not  only  brought  all 
they  had,  but  told  where  there  was  plenty  more  to 
be  found. 


Bimini,    the    Fountain    of    Youth" 


|HEN  Columbus  sailed  back  to  Spain  and 
told  the  story  of  his  wonderful  discov- 
eries the  people  did  not  believe  him  at 
first,  but  when  he  showed  them  the  gold 
and  silver  ornaments,  and  the  strange 
red  men,  they  were  so  amazed  that  they  forgot 
even  to  ask  questions. 

The  news  was  so  startling  that  it  simply  took 
their  breath  away  and  they  stared  at  each  other 
stupidly.  Then  they  said  in  awe-stricken  whispers : 
"How  can  such  things  be!    Is  the  world  com- 
ing to  an  end!     Are  we  going  to  die!     Or  are  ice 
crazy!    Maybe  our  ears  and  eyes  are  fooling  us." 
But  Columbus  only  smiled  and  said: 
"My  friends,  you  see  I  was  right.    The  earth 
is  round,  and  I  have  not  only  found  India  witb  its 
untold  riches,  but  I  have  brought  some  of  its  peo- 
ple home  with  me." 

And  that  is  why  today  we  call  the  red  men 
Indians.  Columbus  did  not  know  that  he  had  dis- 
covered a  new  continent,  so  it  was  natural  for  him 
to  speak  of  the  natives  as  Indians.  And  I  am  sure 
you  will  pity  him  when  I  tell  you  that  he  died  with- 
out ever  knowing  the  difference. 


152          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

All  Europe  was  in  a  fever  of  excitement  over 
his  voyage,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  fitted  out 
other  vessels  and  sailed  across  the  ocean  again  to 
find  the  northwest  passage  which  he  believed  would 
shorten  the  route  to  India.  Rich  men,  and  learned 
ones,  were  ready  to  go  with  him,  and  the  sailors 
expected  to  find  gold  and  precious  stones  scattered 
all  over  the  ground.  Every  word  that  the  convicts 
told  them  about  El  Dorado  they  thought  meant 
gold,  and  the  wildest  and  most  exaggerated  stories 
were  soon  in  everybody's  mouth. 

The  padres,  too,  were  enthusiastic  over  the 
prospect  of  converting  the  heathen,  but  nobody 
took  the  trouble  to  find  out  what  the  Indians 
believed  about  God.  Every  one  misunderstood  the 
meaning  of  El  Dorado  and  never  dreamed  that  there 
had  been  such  a  teacher  as  the  Golden  Hearted, 
or  that  the  Indians  already  knew  how  to  be  broth- 
erly and  kind. 

Even  the  most  learned  men  in  those  days  were 
ready  to  accept  the  existence  of  a  mythical  city 
called  Cathay  as  true. 

They  thought  it  was  situated  somewhere 
between  the  island  of  Newfoundland  and  Florida, 
where  they  expected  to  find  the  spice  groves. 
Another  story  very  common  in  Europe  said  that 
there  was  among  the  beautiful  summer  isles  of  the 
west,  one  that  conferred  immortality  and  was  spoken 
of  as  the  Island  of  Perpetual  Youth.  Among  those 
whose  imagination  was  fired  by  this  romance  was  a 
brave  knight  named  Ponce  de  Leon,  who  was 


"BIMINI,    THE    FOUNTAIN    OF    YOUTH"  153 

Columbus'  companion  on  his  second  voyage.  He 
did  not  care  for  the  gold  of  the  new  world,  for  he 
was  already  rich,  but  he  was  old,  and  he  wanted 
to  renew  his  youth.  King  Ferdinand  commissioned 
him  Governor  of  Porto  Rico,  but  he  soon  tired  of 
it,  and  was  determined  to  discover  the  magic 
spring. 

1 '  For  what  reason  should  I  stay  here  and  lord 
it  over  these  half-naked  savages,"  he  said  to  his 
relatives  and  friends  when  they  tried  to  dissuade 
him  from  undertaking  such  a  perilous  search.  ' i  Let 
us  go  where  we  can  bathe  in  those  enchanted  waters 
and  be  young  once  more.  I  need  it  and  so  will  you 
before  very  long." 

'  *  But  how  do  you  know  there  is  such  a  place ! ' ' 
they  asked. 

"By  hearing  the  full  particulars  of  an  old 
Indian  who  went  there  and  washed  himself  and 
drank  from  the  spring  until  he  was  restored  to 
youth  and  vigor.  Let  us  go  and  be  like  him. ' ' 

To  find  this  new  marvel  he  set  sail  with  three 
brigantines,  and  the  adventurers  with  him  floated 
over  the  summer  sea,  as  men  bent  upon  pleasure, 
and  to  whom  time  was  long  and  burdened  with  no 
serious  duties.  They  sailed  from  island  to  island 
touching  here  and  there  as  fancy  led  them.  They 
sought  the  safest  and  pleasantest  coves,  where  the 
shades  were  deepest  in  the  noonday  sun,  and  the 
waters  coolest;  where  the  fruits  were  the  sweetest, 
the  Indians  most  friendly  and  their  women  the 
loveliest.  At  last  they  came  to  an  inlet  which  led 


154  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

invitingly  up  among  wooded  banks  and  flowering 
valleys.  Here  the  old  knight  said : 

"Let  us  disembark  and  strike  inland.  My 
heart  tells  me  that  we  have  found  the  Fountain  of 
Youth." 

"Nonsense,"  said  his  younger  kinsman,  "our 
way  lies  by  water." 

"Then  leave  me  here  with  my  men,"  he 
replied,  and  after  an  angry  discussion  five  men, 
long  past  middle  age,  and  who  had  come  with  him 
from  Spain,  were  left  on  shore.  The  first  thing 
they  did  was  to  climb  to  the  top  of  a  hill  and  set  up 
a  cross  which  they  had  brought  with  them.  As  soon 
as  it  was  in  place  they  all  removed  their  helmets 
and  prayed  before  it.  One  of  the  men  said  to  him : 

*  <  The  ground  is  pawed  up  as  if  cattle  ranged 
here,  and  this  path  has  been  trod  by  human  feet. ' ' 

"You  are  right,"  said  Ponce  de  Leon,  "lead 
the  way  and  we  will  follow. ' ' 

Taking  the  path  they  met  about  fifty  Indian 
bowmen,  who  seemed  to  their  startled  vision  like  a 
whole  company  of  giants,  but,  who  proved  to  be  of 
a  very  friendly  disposition. 

The  grizzled  old  knights  were  anxious  to 
inquire  about  the  fabled  Fountain,  so  they  gave  the 
Indians  strings  of  gay-colored  beads,  and  some 
little  bells.  In  return  they  received  an  arrow,  as  a 
token  of  good  will.  After  a  long  parley  the  bowmen 
turned  back  to  their  huts.  l  i  We  will  bring  you  food 
in  the  morning,"  they  said,  and  at  daybreak  they 
appeared  again  bringing  plenty  of  fish,  roots  and 


"BIMINL    THE    FOUNTAIN    OF    YOUTH"  155 

fruits.     When  they  saw  that  the  men  were  chilly 
from  the  cold  night  air,  they  said  to  each  other: 

* i  Let  us  carry  our  brothers  to  our  homes  where 
they  can  get  warm.7' 

"But  they  will  suffer  on  the  way,"  said  the 
chief.  "Go  before  us  and  build  big  fires  and  we 
will  stop  at  each  one  to  rest  our  weary  arms." 

The  Spanish  knights  did  not  know  what  to  make 
of  this  kind  of  treatment,  but  they  offered  no  resist- 
ance when  the  stalwart  warriors  took  them  on  their 
backs  and  started  through  the  woods.  The  Indians 
carried  them  very  carefully,  and  at  last  set  them 
down  before  the  doors  of  their  huts  where  the 
women  brought  them  food  and  drink. 

"I  wonder  what  they  intend  to  do  with  us," 
said  the  knights  among  themselves.  On  hearing 
this  remark  Ponce  de  Leon  replied: 

"It  is  just  possible  that  they  will  offer  us 
as  a  sacrifice,  for  it  is  quite  plain  that  they  think 
we  are  supernatural  beings. ' ' 

"Let  us  get  away  from  them  as  quickly  as  we 
can,"  they  said,  fearing  that  something  terrible 
would  happen. 

"Before  we  go  we  must  try  to  find  out  about 
the  magic  spring  we  are  seeking,"  replied  Ponce 
de  Leon,  unwilling  to  give  up  his  project.  It 
required  considerable  time  and  patience  to  make 
the  Indians  comprehend  what  he  wanted,  but  they 
stoutly  maintained  that  they  knew  nothing  about  it. 

'  *  These  redskins  are  cunning  rascals,  and  will 
not  tell  us  where  to  find  the  Fountain  of  Youth," 


156  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

said  Ponce  de  Leon,  in  explanation,  after  his  fruit- 
less talk  with  them, ' '  but  God  giving  us  strength  we 
will  find  it  yet. " 

So  they  went  slowly  and  carefully  over  the 
whole  country,  stopping  at  each  spring  to  take  off 
their  clothes  and  jump  into  it,  then  they  would 
drink  as  much  of  the  water  as  they  could,  and  sit 
down  and  wait  to  see  if  it  would  make  them  young 
again.  As  they  went  farther  away  from  the  coast 
the  Indians  became  more  and  more  friendly, 
because  they  thought  the  white  men  had  come  from 
Heaven. 

"We  must  bring  them  food,  build  houses  for 
them  and  bear  all  their  burdens, ' '  they  said  among 
themselves.  Some  went  out  on  the  hills  and  killed 
deer  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  while  others  killed 
rabbits  by  going  in  a  big  wide  circuit  and  then 
gradually  closing  in  on  the  game.  When  near 
enough  they  knocked  the  rabbit  on  the  head  with 
a  wooden  club  as  it  ran  by  them. 

' '  Breathe  upon  and  bless  our  food, ' '  they  said 
to  the  knights,  after  giving  them  all  they  wanted  for 
themselves,  ' '  so  that  we  may  feel  sure  in  our  hearts 
that  you  are  pleased  with  us." 

At  first  only  the  men  made  these  requests,  but 
finally  the  women  brought  wild  fruits  and  berries, 
which  they  wanted  the  visitors  to  see  and  touch 
before  they  would  eat.  All  this  was  very  trouble- 
some to  the  knights,  but  if  they  refused  or  acted  as 
if  they  were  offended,  the  poor  Indians  were  terri- 
fied, and  falling  on  their  faces  would  cry  out : 


i    THE    FOUNTAIN    OF    YOUTH"  157 

"We  shall  die  unless  we  have  the  favor  of  our 
good  and  wise  white  brothers." 

Farther  on,  the  people  did  not  venture  to  come 
out  in  the  paths  and  gather  round  them  as  the  first 
had  done,  but  stayed  meekly  in  their  houses,  sitting 
with  their  faces  turned  to  the  wall,  and  with  all 
their  property  heaped  up  in  the  middle  of  the  floor. 

' '  We  could  easily  plunder  and  rob  these  simple 
folk,"  said  Ponce  de  Leon,  "but  I  charge  you  on 
your  honor  as  knights  to  take  nothing  you  do  not 
pay  for." 

In  spite  of  this  the  natives  loaded  them  with 
valuable  skins  and  other  presents,  and  were  eager 
and  willing  to  show  all  the  springs  and  creeks  in 
their  neighborhood. 

1  i  They  pretend  to  know  nothing  of  the  miracu- 
lous gifts  of  the  Fountain  of  Youth,  but  their 
own  splendid  endurance  of  heat  and  cold,  and  the 
fatigues  of  travel  show  how  perpetually  young  and 
active  they  are.  If  their  bodies  were  pierced 
through  with  arrows  they  would  soon  recover. 
They  are  trying  to  mislead  us  and  conceal  the 
source  of  their  strength,  but  we  will  soon  find  it," 
the  Spanish  knights  said,  and  Ponce  de  Leon,  their 
leader,  heartily  agreed  with  them. 

Never  in  the  Vorld  had  there  been  such  a 
strange  journey  undertaken  by  gray  and  careworn 
men.  On  and  on  they  went  searching  in  the  heart 
of  the  woods  for  a  fountain  where  they  could  renew 
their  youth.  Yellow  jasmine  trailed  in  festoons 
above  their  heads;  wild  roses  grew  at  their  feet; 


158  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

the  air  was  sweet  with  the  odor  of  pine,  while  long 
gray  moss  hung  from  the  branches  of  the  live-oaks. 

Finally  they  came  to  a  spring  which  widened 
into  a  natural  basin  and  bubbled  up  in  such  a  cool, 
delicious  manner,  that  Ponce  de  Leon  plunged  into 
it  with  joy.  Coming  up  on  the  bank  to  dress  him- 
self, he  exclaimed: 

' '  It  is  enough.  I  have  bathed  in  the  Fountain 
of  Youth.  See,  I  am  young  again." 

His  companions  hastened  to  try  it,  and  they 
too  said  the  same. 

* '  Hurrah !  hurrah !  the  Fountain  of  Youth  has 
been  found!  Let  us  make  haste  to  tell  the  world 
of  your  discovery." 

But  they  were  mistaken  and  had  not  counted 
on  what  the  Indians  would  do  about  it.  When  they 
found  that  the  white  men  wanted  a  boat  to  go  down 
the  river  they  were  eager  to  get  it  for  them,  but 
when  they  understood  that  they  were  going  away, 
they  wept  bitterly,  and  tried  every  way  to  persuade 
them  to  stay. 

"No,  we  will  not  remain.  This  is  Florida,  the 
land  of  flowers,  and  we  are  looking  for  Bimini,  the 
Fountain  of  Youth,"  said  Ponce  de  Leon,  firmly. 
"Your  people  have  misled  us  continually.  Bimini 
is  an  island  and  we  are  going  to  search  until  we 
find  it." 

"And  if  you  succeed  will  you  return  to  us," 
asked  an  Indian  chief  eagerly.  "You  have  the 
secret  of  life  and  death  in  your  hands,  and  have 
already  saved  my  wife  and  child.  Stay  and  we  will 
serve  you  faithfully." 


HURRAH!  HURRAH!  THE  FOUNTAIN  OF  YOUTH 

See  opposite  page 


160  THE    STORIES    OP    EL    DORADO 

11  Oh !  my  brothers,  stay  with  us ! ' '  begged  and 
implored  the  Indians.  Some  of  them  clung  to  the 
garments  of  the  knights,  and  others  were  dragged 
out  of  the  boat  by  the  determined  natives.  Finally 
Ponce  de  Leon,  grown  tired  of  useless  parley,  said 
angrily : 

' '  I  am  old  and  weary  and  must  soon  die  if  I  do 
not  find  the  waters  which  will  renew  my  youth  and 
vigor.  Your  thickets  and  swamps  are  filled  with 
alligators  and  poisonous  water  snakes ;  the  very  air 
is  laden  with  deadly  fevers,  and  never  again  will  I 
return  to  it." 

As  the  canoe  started  down  the  river  the  Indians 
wrung  their  hands  and  wailed  loudly : 

'  *  Come  back !  come  back ! ' '  But  Ponce  de  Leon 
stood  up  in  the  boat  and  shook  his  head,  and  made 
them  understand  by  signs  that  he  would  not  do  as 
they  wished.  This  made  them  all  the  more  frantic 
and  one  of  the  warriors,  snatching  up  a  poisoned 
arrow,  sped  it  with  deadly  aim.  It  went  through 
the  thigh  of  the  gallant  old  knight  where  he  stood, 
•and  it  was  not  long  until  death  ended  his  search  for 
the  Fountain  of  Youth.  Since  then  no  one  has  ever 
tried  to  locate  this  wonder-working  fountain,  but 
philosophers  say  that  it  is  in  our  own  hearts  and 
that  we  find  it  when  we  realize  that  the  soul  never 
dies,  and  is  perpetually  young  because  of  its 
immortality. 


Montezuma  and  the  Paba 


OLUMBUS    died 
prison     because 


poor   and   in 
nobody     was 

interested  in  his  effort  to  find 
a  northwest  passage  to  India, 
or  cared  whether  the  earth  was 
round  or  liat.     They  wanted  gold,  and 
the  stories  of  El  Dorado  told  by  the 
ignorant  sailors  had  more  influence  on 
the   people   than   anything    Columbus 
said  or  did. 

"I  have  merely  opened  the  gates 
for  others  to  enter,"  he  exclaimed 
bitterly,  when  he  found  himself 
thwarted  in  all  his  plans,  but  there  is 
more  honor  accorded  his  memory  than 
to  any  of  the  others  who  came  after  him,  and  made 
immense  fortunes. 


162  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

The  same  year  that  Queen  Isabella  died,  a 
young  man,  but  nineteen  years  old,  named  Her- 
nando  Cortez,  sailed  from  Spain  for  Cuba.  Already 
there  was  quite  a  Spanish  settlement  on  the  island, 
and  when  the  Governor  offered  him  a  large  tract  of 
land  with  Indian  slaves  to  cultivate  it,  he  answered 
angrily : 

"I  came  to  get  gold,  not  to  till  the  soil  like  a 
peasant. ' ' 

He  expected  to  find  untold  wealth  locked  up 
in  the  unexplored  regions  of  the  new  world,  and 
had  no  patience  with  any  of  the  slower  methods  of 
gaining  riches.  Instead  of  working  he  meant  to 
fight  for  what  he  wanted  and  we  shall  find  when 
we  know  more  about  him  that  he  broke  his  word 
to  his  king,  the  governor  of  Cuba,  to  his  wife,  to  his 
soldiers,  and  to  every  friend  who  served  him.  Yet 
he  was  born  a  gentleman,  handsome  and  well  man- 
nered, but  a  greedy  love  of  gold  rendered  him  brutal 
and  treacherous  to  a  degree. 

In  his  company  were  gallant  knights  of  chivalry, 
servile  retainers  of  the  king,  soldiers  of  fortune, 
and  bearded  friars,  who  left  behind  them  country, 
home,  family,  friends  and  sweethearts,  to  seek  El 
Dorado,  which  to  them  meant  simply  gold.  When 
we  study  the  history  of  the  United  States  we  shall 
be  surprised  to  find  men  like  them  in  full  armor 
of  steel,  with  lance,  shield  and  helmet,  mounted  on 
prancing  steeds,  caparisoned  in  gay  colors,  glitter- 
ing through  the  untracked  wilderness  of  Florida, 


MONTEZUMA    AND    THE    PABA  163 

Georgia,  Alabama,  and  even  as  far  west  as  Arizona, 
always  in  search  of  El  Dorado.  And  in  every  case 
their  greed  for  gold  led  to  such  bloodshed  and  vio- 
lence, that  it  makes  the  heart  ache  to  think  about  it. 
Not  many  years  after  Cortez  landed  in  Cuba, 
the  Governor  sent  for  him  and  said : 

"I  have  at  last  secured  permission  from  the 
king  to  explore  the  continent  lying  to  the  west,  and 
I  desire  you  to  take  ships  and  soldiers  and  have 
command  of  the  expedition. ' ' 

Something  in  Cortez'  manner  excited  the  sus- 
picion of  the  Governor,  but  he  said  nothing  until 
he  was  ready  to  sail.  Then  he  withdrew  the  com- 
mission, and  ordered  Cortez  to  remain  in  Cuba. 
Instead  of  obeying  he  stole  away  in  the  night,  and 
did  not  land  until  he  came  to  the  coast  of  Mexico, 
close  to  the  point  from  which  the  Golden  Hearted 
had  sailed.  His  men  were  afraid  to  venture  far 
from  shore,  but  he  painted  glowing  pictures  of  the 
gold  they  were  to  find,  and  said: 

"I  hold  out  to  you  a  glorious  prize,  but  it  is 
only  to  be  won  by  incessant  toil." 

Then  holding  up  a  black  velvet  standard  with 
a  red  cross  in  the  center,  surrounded  by  flames  of 
blue  and  white,  he  continued: 

"Comrades,  let  us  follow  the  cross,  and  under 
this  sign  if  we  have  faith,  we  shall  conquer."  The 
padres  with  them,  who  had  come  to  minister  to  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  the  cavaliers  and  soldiers,  urged 
them  to  go  forward,  saying : 


164  THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

"We  are  in  honor  bound  to  carry  the  gospel  to 
these  poor,  ignorant  heathens,  and  God  has  given 
you  the  privilege  of  helping  in  this  work." 

The  Indians  were  friendly  and  when  asked  for 
gold,  answered: 

"We  on  the  sea  coast  have  little,  but  in  Tenoch- 
titlan  there  is  a  rich  and  powerful  king  named 
Montezuma,  who  has  much  gold  and  other 
treasures. ' ' 

Around  them  were  parched  and  sandy  plains, 
but  on  the  march  they  soon  came  to  "the  land  of 
bread,"  as  the  Tlascallan  country  was  called,  and 
here  they  heard  of  Cholula,  the  sacred  city.  When 
they  came  in  sight  of  it  they  exclaimed : 

"  It  is  the  promised  land ! ' '  and  were  amazed  at 
the  splendor  of  the  city,  as  well  as  the  surround- 
ing country,  where  there  were  fields  of  maize, 
vanilla,  indigo,  sugar  cane,  flowering  cacao  groves, 
and  banana  trees  in  profusion.  The  streets  of  Cho- 
lula were  filled  with  a  concourse  of  priests  whom 
Cortez  mistook  for  beggars.  They  were  holding  a 
religious  festival  in  honor  of  Quetzalcoatl,  which 
was  their  name  for  the  Golden  Hearted,  who  had 
now  become  the  Pair  God  of  tradition.  Long  had 
they  been  expecting  him  to  return  to  Cholula,  and 
because  Cortez  had  a  fair  complexion,  and  was 
accompanied  by  other  white  men  they  thought  the 
Golden  Hearted  had  come  at  last.  The  people  lined 
the  streets  and  roadways  and  not  only  wore  gar- 
lands of  flowers  on  their  heads,  but  tossed  bouquets 
to  the  soldiers,  while  the  priests  met  them  with 


MONTEZUMA    AND    THE    PABA  165 

music  and  swung  incense  up  and  down  the  cleanly- 
swept  streets  they  passed  through. 

' '  What  is  the  will  of  Quetzalcoatl ! ' '  they  asked 
eagerly  of  Cortez. 

"Do  you  come  from  Tlapalla?"  they  inquired 
of  his  followers. 

"No, "  they  were  answered,  "but  we  have  a 
disease  of  the  heart  which  only  gold  can  cure." 

Then  the  simple  natives  brought  all  the  gold- 
dust  and  little  trinkets  they  could  find  and  gave  to 
their  visitors.  Cortez  thanked  them,  but  said: 

' '  This  is  not  enough.  We  must  have  very  much 
more. ' ' 

"Then  you  wrould  better  ask  our  friend  and 
ally,  the  great  king,  Montezuma.  He  has  immense 
stores  of  it. ' ' 

"W7here  is  this  great  king,  and  this  city  of 
Tenochtitlan?" 

' '  Farther  to  the  west, ' '  they  answered. 

Shortly  after  this  an  embassy  of  nobles  from 
the  court  of  Montezuma  appeared  with  rich  pres- 
ents and  an  invitation  to  Cortez  to  visit  the  king. 
None  of  them  had  ever  seen  a  white  man  before, 
and  they  did  not  for  a  moment  doubt  that  Cortez 
was  the  Golden  Hearted,  returned  to  claim  his  own, 
and  they  were  very  anxious  to  please  him.  Touch- 
ing his  brass  helmet  one  of  them  said  timidly : 

"  It  is  very  like  that  worn  by  Quetzalcoatl,  and 
I  would  like  our  king,  Montezuma,  to  see  it. ' ' 

"Certainly,"  responded  Cortez,  "but  bring  it 
back  filled  with  gold."  And  they  did.  No  one 


166  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

knows  just  why,  but  something  made  Cortez  sus- 
pect the  gentle  natives  of  treachery,  and  one  morn- 
ing at  daybreak  he  fell  upon  them  in  the  market 
place,  and  slew  thousands  of  people,  and  then  set 
fire  to  the  city.  His  rude  soldiers  went  up  on  the 
pyramid  and  threw  down  the  statue  of  the  Golden 
Hearted,  and  erected  a  cross  in  its  place.  History 
says  that  the  Aztecs  had  long  been  offering  the 
hearts  of  human  beings  in  sacrifice  to  the  Golden 
Hearted  in  Cholula,  while  in  Tenochtitlan  they  had 
set  up  an  image  of  a  terrible  war  god,  and  were 
worshiping  that  more  than  the  gentle,  inoffensive 
Golden  Hearted.  It  was  this  disobedience  which 
made  Montezuma  fear  that  he  was  returning  to  take 
vengeance. 

One  morning  early  the  king  went  to  see  the 
Paba,  who  had  charge  of  the  sacred  fires  on  the 
altars  built  by  the  Golden  Hearted  himself.  The 
chamber  in  the  temple  was  square,  with  the  ceiling 
covered  by  a  lattice  work  of  shining  white  and 
yellow  metal  which,  at  the  intersections,  was  carved 
to  represent  flowers  set  with  jewels.  All  around 
the  walls  were  sculptured  pictures  of  men.  As  the 
king  approached  the  Paba  said : 

"The  gloomy  clouds  hanging  overhead  are  not 
darker  than  is  the  mood  of  Quetzalcoatl,  but  to  the 
poor  Paba  the  voice  of  the  king  is  ever  welcome. ' ' 

"Why  should  the  mood  of  Quetzalcoatl  be 
dark!  A  new  teocalli  holds  his  image,  and  they 
say  he  is  happy  and  that  he  comes  from  the  place  of 
sunrise  with  a  canoe  filled  with  blessings." 


MONTEZUMA    AND    THE    PABA  167 

"Do  you  remember,  0  king!  that  in  some  of 
the  underground  chambers  of  this  temple,  besides 
vast  stores  of  wealth,  there  are  prophecies  to  be 
read?" 

'  i  I  remember  it  well, ' '  said  Montezuma. 

* '  Give  me  leave,  and  I  will  show  you  the  writ- 
ing from  Quetzalcoatl  himself." 

Groping  their  way  through  the  great  under- 
ground cavern,  but  dimly  lighted,  the  Paba  said : 

* '  Son  of  a  king,  is  your  heart  strong  ?  The  writ- 
ing begins  here  and  continues  around  the  wall." 

' '  Read  it, ' '  said  Montezuma. 

* '  The  first  is  here  on  the  north  and  represents 
the  ancient  king  on  the  march.  You  see  him  in  the 
midst  of  warriors  who  are  dancing  in  honor  of  his 
victories.  Here  we  have  the  whole  story  of  our 
race. ' ' 

"This  was  before  the  coming  of  Quetzalcoatl 
and  is  of  the  remote  past,"  said  Montezuma,  with  a 
frown. 

"On  the  southern  wall,  opposite,"  replied  the 
Paba,  "is  what  you  seek.  Observe  the  king  stands 
on  a  rock,  and  a  priest  points  out  to  him  an  eagle 
on  a  cactus  holding  a  serpent  in  its  claws.  Beside 
it  the  king  reclines  on  a  couch.  Our  city  has  been 
founded. ' ' 

Montezuma  said  not  a  word,  but  turned  to 
another  panel. 

"Look  well  to  this,  0  king!  There  is  Quet- 
zalcoatl before  an  altar  offering  a  sacrifice  of  fruit 
and  flowers.  His  hands  are  free  from  blood!" 


168  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

Montezuma's  face  was  deadly  pale,  because  he 
knew  that  many  orders  of  priests  in  his  kingdom 
sacrificed  human  beings  by  cutting  out  their  hearts, 
and  he  was  afraid  that  the  coming  of  the  strange 
white  men  was  on  account  of  this  forbidden 
practice. 

"See!  Oli  majesty!  the  fair  god  is  departing 
from  our  beloved  Tenochtitlan.  Saddest  of  all 
days  was  that  for  us. " 

"Show  me  a  prophecy  if  you  would  have  me 
believe  that  this  was  written  by  Quetzal coatl.  I 
would  know  something  of  the  future." 

"Be  wise,  oh  my  master!  Let  the  future 
alone;  it  is  sown  with  sorrows  for  all  you  love." 

"Until  I  wrong  the  gods  why  should  I  fear 
them?  Have  done,  Paha,  I,  too,  am  a  priest," 
said  Montezuma,  earnestly. 

"I,  his  true  servant,  tell  you  never  again  to 
look  for  smile  from  Tlapalla.  I  will  show  you 
from  Quetzal  coatl  himself,  that  the  end  of  your 
empire  is  at  hand.  Every  breeze  from  the  east 
is  filled  with  woe  for  you  and  yours.  The  writing 
is  on  the  wall.  Look  again  and  closely." 

i  i  I  see  nothing, ' '  cried  the  king. 

"All  that  you  have  heard  about  the  return 
of  Quetzalcoatl  is  true.  He  is  coming  to  end  the 
days  of  the  Aztecs  forever. ' ' 

"Forever!  It  cannot  be.  Read  the  next 
panel." 

"There  is  no  other,  this  is  the  last,"  answered 
the  Paba  sadly. 


MONTEZUMA   AND   THE   PABA  169 

Montezuma  turned  quickly  to  the  north  wall, 
but  found  it  without  a  single  mark.  Here  indeed 
was  the  end. 

That  night  the  Aztec  king  could  neither  eat  nor 
sleep.  The  prophecy  was  with  him  all  the  time. 
When  the  morning  came  he  called  for  his  canoe. 
From  the  battlements  of  Chapultepec,  the  palace 
and  tomb  of  his  fathers,  he  would  see  the  sun  rise. 
If  Quetzalcoatl  was  angered  and  meant  to  wreak 
vengeance,  he  naturally  supposed  the  sun,  his 
dwelling  place,  would  give  some  warning. 

In  all  the  heavens  around  there  was  not  a 
fleck  when  suddenly  a  cloud  of  smoke  rushed 
upward,  and  across  the  pathway  of  the  sun,  so  that 
when  it  crept  over  the  mountain  range,  it  looked 
like  a  ball  of  blood!  Montezuma  drew  the  hood 
over  his  face  quickly,  and  his  head  dropped  on  his 
breast. 

The  Paba  had  spoken  the  truth.  Quetzalcoatl 
was  coming !  and  next  evening  a  runner  sped  hotly 
over  the  causeway  and  up  the  street,  stopping  at 
the  gate  of  the  royal  palace.  He  was  taken  before 
the  king  and  shortly  after  the  news  went  flying  over 
Tenochtitlan,  that  Quetzalcoatl  had  arrived  in  his 
huge  water-house  with  wings,  and  filled  with 
thunder  and  lightning!  for  that  was  what  the 
Aztecs  called  the  ships  and  cannon  brought  by 
Cortez.  . 

When  Montezuma  heard  of  the  terrible  mas- 
sacre in  Cholula,  he  called  a  council  of  wise  old 
men  and  said: 


170  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

"Of  what  use  is  it,  uncles!  The  gods  are 
against  us  and  resistance  is  of  no  avail.  I  mourn 
most  for  the  women  and  children,  and  the  old  and 
infirm  who  are  too  feeble  to  fight  or  fly.  For  myself 
and  the  brave  men  around  me,  we  must  bare  our 
breasts  to  the  storm  and  meet  it  as  we  may." 

As  Cortez  neared  Tenochtitlan  he  was  met  by 
so  many  chiefs  and  nobles  under  Montezuma,  that 
it  took  them  an  hour  to  pass  before  him,  and  make 
their  salutation  which  they  did  by  touching  the 
ground  with  the  right  hand  and  then  carrying  it 
to  the  forehead.  The  four  nobles  carrying  Monte- 
zuma on  their  shoulders,  were  preceded  by  three 
officers  of  state  bearing  gold  wands  in  their  hands 
to  show  that  they  came  in  peace.  The  royal  palan- 
quin, or  chair,  in  which  Montezuma  was  seated, 
blazed  with  gold,  jewels  and  gaudy  feather-work, 
while  the  nobles  carrying  it  were  barefooted. 
They  walked  with  slow  measured  steps  and  kept 
their  eyes  bent  on  the  ground.  Finally  the  train 
of  warriors  and  nobles  halted,  and  Montezuma 
came  forward  to  meet  Cortez. 

Imagine  what  their  feelings  must  have  been 
as  they  looked  at  each  other !  Montezuma  thought 
he  was  welcoming  back  the  gentle,  kind  Quetzal- 
coatl,  whom  we  know  as  the  Golden  Hearted,  while 
Cortez  knew  he  had  found  more  gold  and  riches 
than  he  ever  dreamed  existed  anywhere. 

The  poor  misled  Aztec  king  approached  the 
Spanish  adventurer  and  putting  an  exquisitely 
wrought  gold  collar  around  his  neck  said: 


MONTEZTJMA    AND    THE    PABA  171 

"This  was  my  father's  palace  but  it  belongs 
to  you  and  your  brethren.  Rest  here  after  your 
fatigues  and  in  a  little  while  I  will  visit  you 
again. ' ' 

When  he  went  out  of  the  palace  he  sent  slaves 
to  wait  upon  them,  and  he  gave  each  one  new 
clothes,  and  a  splendid  feast.  When  they  had 
finished  eating,  the  rude  soldiers  searched  all 
through  the  palace  for  hidden  wealth,  and  finding 
the  treasure  house  of  the  king  proceeded  to  help 
themselves.  When  Montezuma  heard  of  it  he  said: 

"They  are  welcome  to  the  gold  and  silver  and 
other  articles,  if  they  will  but  spare  the  things 
belonging  to  the  gods." 

In  the  palace  grounds  where  they  were 
quartered  they  found  an  aviary  filled  with  beautiful 
singing  birds;  a  menagerie  full  of  strange  animals, 
and  snakes ;  ten  big  tanks  stocked  with  water-fowl 
and  fish ;  fountains  playing  everywhere,  and 
wonderful  floating  gardens  on  the  lakes,  while  all 
around  them  lay  a  city  filled  with  temples,  market 
places,  and  handsome  houses. 

True  to  his  promise  Montezuma  returned 
shortly  and  in  speaking  to  Cortez  said: 

"I  have  been  expecting  you  for  many  days. 
The  wonderful  deeds  attributed  to  you,  your  com- 
plexion and  the  quarter  from  whence  you  come 
show  me  that  you  are  Quetzalcoatl.  You  and 
your  brethren  shall  share  all  things  with  me, ' '  and 
with  tears  in  his  eyes  he  gave  them  as  many  costly 


172          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

presents   as  they  could   carry.     The  padres   and 
soldiers  were  constantly  asked: 

"Do  you  come  from  Tlapalla?"  while  Monte- 
zuma  did  everything  he  could  to  please  Cortez. 

One  day  he  went  to  the  king's  palace  and  after 
accepting  the  usual  presents  of  gold  and  silver, 
Montezuma  offered  him  one  of  his  daughters  for 
a  wife.  Cortez  declined,  and  seeing  that  the  court- 
yard was  partly  filled  with  his  trusted  men,  he 
approached  Montezuma  abruptly  and  said: 

1  '  You  have  treated  me  treacherously,  and  have 
allowed  one  of  my  officers  to  be  killed  on  the  sea 
coast. ' ' 

Montezuma  turned  very  pale.  No  one  else  in 
his  kingdom  would  have  dared  speak  to  him  in 
such  an  insulting  manner,  and  besides  that  he 
knew  nothing  of  the  death  of  the  officer  before.  In 
reality  the  officer  had  been  murdered  while  tortur- 
ing the  poor  natives  to  make  them  give  him  more 
gold. 

"I  demand  that  you  send  for  the  chief  and  all 
the  notable  men  in  his  council  that  I  may  punish 
him  for  the  death  of  my  comrade,"  said  Cortez, 
trying  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  the  king. 

"Very  well,"  said  Montezuma,  kindly.  "I 
will  have  them  brought  as  you  desire." 

' '  I  believe  in  your  promise,  but  you  must  come 
to  my  quarters  as  hostage  until  the  thing  is  done. ' ' 

Poor  Montezuma  thinking  it  was  a  command 
of  God  did  not  dare  refuse,  and  in  a  short  time 


MONTEZUMA    AND    THE    PABA  173 

afterward  the  chief  and  his  council  were  brought 
before  him.  He  turned  them  over  to  Cortez  for 
punishment,  and  they  were  burned  to  death  in  the 
public  square,  where  Montezuma  could  see  them 
from  his  window.  Cortez  had  the  poor  creatures 
tortured  to  make  them  accuse  Montezuma  of  telling 
them  to  commit  the  murder,  so  that  he  would  have 
an  excuse  for  what  he  intended  to  do  to  the  king. 
Pretending  to  believe  the  confessions,  he  went 
before  the  king  and  ordered  two  common  Spanish 
soldiers  to  put  him  in  irons.  Poor  Montezuma 
moaned  and  groaned  like  his  heart  would  break, 
while  his  faithful  attendants,  weeping  bitterly  tried 
to  put  their  mantles  under  the  irons  so  they  would 
not  touch  his  flesh. 

Cortez  now  demanded  that  he  abdicate  his 
power,  and  pay  tribute  to  Spain,  so  he  compelled 
the  king  to  assemble  all  his  chiefs,  which  he  did 
saying  to  them : 

* t  You  are  acquainted  with  the  traditions  which 
say  that  the  good  Quetzalcoatl  is  to  return  and  rule 
over  us.  That  time  has  come  and  we  must  obey 
our  new  masters.  You  have  been  faithful  vassals 
of  mine,  and  I  expect  you  to  show  me  this  last  act 
of  obedience  by  acknowledging  the  great  king 
across  the  water  as  your  lord  also."  The  tears 
streamed  down  his  face,  and  his  haughty  chiefs 
were  very  sad  at  heart,  but  they  were  loyal  as  well 
as  brave  men,  and  they  answered : 


174  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

"Your  will  is  our  law,  and  if  you  think  the 
king  of  the  strangers  is  the  ancient  lord  of  our 
country  we  are  willing  to  acknowledge  him  as 
such/' 

As  soon  as  this  was  done  the  grasping  Span- 
iards compelled  Montezuma  to  send  throughout 
his  kingdom  for  all  the  gold,  silver,  precious  stones 
and  feather-work  that  could  be  found,  in  the  name 
of  the  king  of  Spain,  but  when  they  got  it  they 
divided  it  among  themselves,  and  then  quarreled 
fiercely  over  who  should  have  the  greater  part. 

Here  indeed  was  their  fabled  El  Dorado! 

There  was  but  one  more  humiliation  awaiting 
Montezuma,  and  that  was  to  have  his  own  people 
revile  him.  The  Spaniards  had  been  so  brutal  and 
cruel  in  their  dealings  with  the  Aztecs  that  some  of 
them  began  to  doubt  whether  they  could  have  come 
from  Tlapalla,  and  whether  Cortez  was  the  Golden 
Hearted.  Knowing  this  Cortez  induced  Monte- 
zuma to  dress  himself  in  his  royal  robes,  and 
appear  on  the  stone  parapet  of  the  palace  where  he 
was  confined,  to  quiet  the  mob  and  induce  them  to 
go  about  their  work  peaceably.  Cortez  was  begin- 
ning to  fear  for  his  own  safety,  but  the  populace 
were  not  to  be  tricked  by  him.  They  did  not  believe 
it  was  Montezuma  before  them,  and  hurling  a  stone 
at  the  royal  palanquin  accidentally  hit  the  unhappy 
king  on  the  forehead.  The  blow  was  not  sufficient 
to  kill  him,  but  he  took  to  his  bed  and  refused  to 
eat  until  he  final Iv  died.  History  savs  of  him  that 


MONTEZIJMA    AND    THE    PABA 


175 


'  *  his  great  heart  was  burst  in  twain  by  the  sorrows 
that  oppressed  his  high  courage."  Certain  it  is 
that  he  could  not  live  when  he  found  that  both  his 
God  and  his  people  despised  him.  It  has  never 
been  known  what  became  of  his  body,  for  a  terrible 
war  followed  his  death. 

Today  we  call  his  country  and  city  Mexico. 


their  country 
had  ever  seen 
to  the  ancient 


The    Child    of    the   Sun 

ONE  of  us  have  forgotten  about 
the  Children  of  the  Sun,  and  the 
city  of  Cuzco  founded  by  the 
Golden  Hearted,  or  of  his  ruling 
over  them  as  Manco-Capac,  the 
powerful  one.  He  went  into 
which  we  call  Peru  before  he 
Mexico,  but  the  Spaniards  came 
city  of  Tenochtitlan  before  they 
knew  anything  about  Cuzco.  It  was  not  long  after 
the  death  of  Montezuma  until  the  Spaniards  heard 
about  the  riches  of  the  Children  of  the  Sun,  and 
they  were  determined  to  find  that  country. 

The  Aztecs  did  not  help  them  any  because  they 
no  longer  looked  upon  them  as  sent  from  Heaven 
but  as  ruthless  destroyers  borne  along  on  the  backs 
of  fierce  animals  swift  as  the  wind,  and  carrying 
weapons  in  their  hands  that  scattered  death  and 
destruction  everywhere.  The  Aztecs  learned  to 
hate  the  Spaniards  bitterly,  and  when  we  came  to 
study  their  history  we  shall  know  why.  Even  their 
own  historians  do  not  pretend  to  deny  that  they 


THE    CHILD    OF    THE    SUN"  177 

fell  upon  the  poor  Aztecs  sword  in  hand  and  robbed 
them  of  all  the  treasures  they  had,  besides  taking 
their  lands  away  from  them. 

Some  say  that  Francisco  Pizarro  was  a  cousin 
of  Hernando  Cortez  who  conquered  the  Aztecs, 
but  all  agree  that  he  was  an  ignorant  swineherd, 
who  could  neither  read  nor  write,  and  whose 
parents  were  not  respectable.  While  he  was  not 
actually  a  convict  he  belonged  to  the  low  class,  and 
the  men  going  with  him  to  search  for  the  new  El 
Dorado  among  the  Children  of  the  Sun,  were 
really  no  better.  Cortez  had  some  hidalgoes,  caval- 
liers  and  knights  with  him  because  men  of  good 
family  often  came  to  the  Americas  on  the  first  voy- 
ages after  Columbus,  but  Pizarro  collected  a  band 
of  cut-throat  adventurers  who  were  just  as  greedy 
and  ignorant  as  he  was.  All  the  exploring  they 
did  was  simply  to  search  for  gold,  and  they  did  not 
care  what  methods  they  used  to  get  it.  The  simple 
natives  with  their  naked  defenseless  bodies,  and 
bows  and  arrows  were  no  match  for  men  covered 
with  steel  armor,  mounted  on  horseback  and  armed 
with  guns  and  cannon.  Balboa  had  already  found 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  Pizarro  knew  that  the 
Children  of  the  Sun  lived  in  that  direction,  so  he 
rigged  out  a  vessel  and  sailed  along  the  coast  trying 
to  find  them.  At  the  first  place  he  landed  the 
natives  said  to  him : 

"Why  do  you  not  stay  at  home  and  till  your 
own  land  instead  of  roaming  about  to  rob  others 
who  have  never  harmed  vou?" 


178  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

But  the  savages  wore  some  heavy  gold  orna- 
ments, and  Pizarro  asked  eagerly: 

"Have  you  more  of  this!" 

"Yes,  we  have  a  little  more,"  they  said,  and 
as  they  were  weighing  some  of  the  metal  their  chief 
struck  the  scales  with  his  fist,  scattering  the  nuggets 
all  over  the  floor. 

"If  this  is  what  you  prize  so  much  that  you 
are  willing  to  risk  your  lives  to  attain  it,  I  can  tell 
you  of  a  land  where  they  eat  and  drink  out  of 
vessels  of  gold,  and  where  there  are  great  quantities 
to  be  had  for  the  asking. ' ' 

"Where  is  this  rich  country!" 

"It  is  ten  days  journey  toward  the  south  and 
is  ruled  by  the  Child  of  the  Sun." 

The  Spaniards  were  nearly  mad  with  joy 
because  now  they  said: 

"All  our  fond  dreams  are  about  to  be  real- 
ized. ' '  They  were  in  such  a  good  humor  that  they 
gave  the  natives  some  glass  beads  and  some  live 
chickens.  When  they  turned  the  rooster  loose, 
he  crowed,  and  then  the  simple  natives  clapped 
their  hands  in  glee,  and  asked : 

"What  is  it  saying!" 

It  sounded  as  if  the  rooster  said : 

"How  do  you  do,  sir!"  which  the  natives 
thought  was  very  funny  indeed.  Then  they  wanted 
to  know  what  the  cannon  said.  One  of  the  men 
set  up  a  target  and  fired  at  it  shivering  the  board 
into  fine  splinters.  The  loud  noise,  the  flash  of 
smoke  and  powder,  frightened  the  poor  natives 


THE    CHILD    OF    THE    SUN  179 

nearly  to  death.  Some  of  them  fell  flat  on  their 
faces,  and  others  ran  into  the  woods  as  fast  as 
they  could  go,  screaming : 

"Our  good  Manco-Capac  is  coming  back  to 
us  angry/' 

That  night  the  old  men  huddled  the  terrified 
people  together  and  said  to  them : 

"Do  you  remember  when  the  comet  flamed 
through  the  sky;  when  the  earthquake  shook  the 
land,  and  there  was  a  rainbow  around  the  moon!" 

"I  well  remember,"  said  one  of  the  old  men. 
"that  a  thunderbolt  fell  on  one  of  the  Incas'  royal 
palaces  setting  it  on  fire,  and  I  saw  an  eagle  chased 
by  several  hawks  hovering  in  the  air  over  Cuzco. 
Our  king  saw  it  too,  and  while  he  looked  at  it  the 
eagle  fell  dead  at  his  feet." 

"It  is  no  use  to  resist  these  strangers,"  said 
an  envoy  from  the  Inca,  who  had  arrived  in  time 
to  hear  the  last  statement.  ' t  Seven  years  ago  when 
the  father  of  our  king  died,  he  called  his  son  to  his 
bedside  and  told  him  that  white  and  bearded 
strangers  were  coming  to  overturn  the  Empire. 
And  as  you  know,  our  great  oracle  has  foretold  the 
return  of  Manco-Capac  at  the  close  of  the  twelfth 
dynasty  of  the  Incas.  That  day  is  at  hand,  so  do 
not  quarrel  with  the  strangers. ' ' 

No  one  showed  a  disposition  to  disobey  him, 
and  in  a  short  time  he  stood  before  Pizarro  saying : 

' 1 1  bring  you  greetings  from  the  Inca,  Child  of 
the  Sun,  who  rules  this  land.  He  wishes  me  to  ask 
why  you  come,  and  from  what  country. ' ' 


180  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"Our  home  is  far  across  the  sea,"  responded 
Pizarro,  l  i  and  we  serve  a  rich  and  powerful  prince 
who  has  heard  of  the  Child  of  the  Sun,  and  sends 
us  to  pay  our  respects  to  him. ' ' 

This  was  not  the  truth  for  the  King  of  Spain 
knew  nothing  whatever  of  Pizarro 's  wicked  inten- 
tions, nor  did  he  know  about  Cortez  either  until 
long  after  poor  Montezuma  was  dead  and  his 
country  laid  waste.  But  when  men  turn  out  to 
be  wholesale  robbers  they  do  not  care  whether  they 
tell  the  truth  or  not. 

"Our  Inca  is  at  his  favorite  baths  and  wishes 
to  know  when  you  will  arrive,  so  that  he  may  pro- 
vide suitable  refreshments  for  you." 

"We  will  come  at  once,"  said  Pizarro. 

1 '  It  would  be  better  to  wait  a  few  days, ' '  said 
the  king's  messenger.  "Our  Inca  is  keeping  a 
sacred  fast,  and  we  cannot  disturb  him  until  it  is 
finished."  The  Spaniards  had  no  respect  for  the 
king's  wishes  or  his  privacy,  so  they  made  ready  to 
follow  the  messenger.  While  they  were  dividing 
the  presents  of  llamas,  sheep  and  gold  goblets 
among  themselves  some  of  the  soldiers  said: 

"This  dog  of  a  king  may  have  thousands  of 
followers.  What  can  a  handful  of  men  like  we 
are,  do  against  so  many !  Suppose  they  should  try 
to  fight  us?" 

Pizarro  happened  to  overhear  them  and 
replied : 

1  i  Let  every  one  of  you  take  heart,  and  go  for- 
ward like  a  good  soldier.  God  ever  protects  his 


THE    CHILD    OF    THE    SUN  181 

own,  and  will  humble  the  pride  of  the  heathen  and 
bring  him  to  a  knowledge  of  the  true  faith— the 
great  end  and  object  of  this  conquest." 

It  was  the  first  time  he  had  spoken  of  conquest, 
but  the  soldiers  remembered  the  complete  success 
of  Cortez  in  Mexico  and  only  needed  to  be  told  that 
the  natives  were  to  be  Christianized  to  make  them 
certain  that  the  home  authorities  would  not  inter- 
fere with  them,  so  they  shouted : 

"Lead  on!  wherever  you  think  best  we  will 
follow  with  good  will." 

The  few  padres  in  the  company  were  sincere 
in  their  wish  to  teach  the  natives  and  so  was  the 
King  of  Spain,  but  neither  of  them  could  control  the 
actions  of  such  men  as  Pizarro  and  his  adventurers, 
now  ready  to  pounce  down  on  the  mild  and  inoffen- 
sive people  like  a  band  of  hungry  wolves.  When 
they  got  up  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  and  looked 
down,  the  landscape  had  the  appearance  of  a  huge 
checker-board  cut  into  squares  by  canals  and  ever- 
green hedges.  A  wide  river  rolled  through  the 
meadows,  like  a  narrow  silver  ribbon,  while  across 
the  valley  were  the  famous  hot  baths  with  steam 
and  vapor  rising  from  them  in  the  clear  air.  Along 
the  slope  of  the  hills  a  white  cloud  of  tents  covered 
the  ground  for  several  miles,  where  the  Child  of  the 
Sun,  and  his  court  were  encamped. 

Pizarro  with  banners  streaming  and  the 
sparkle  of  armor  glittering  in  the  sun,  galloped 
into  the  city  with  blare  of  trumpets  and  lances 
fixed.  The  Inca  was  in  a  camp  near  by,  but  the 


182          THE    STOEIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

rude  Spaniards  broke  in  upon  his  fast,  and  a 
brother  of  Pizarro  almost  rode  him  down  with  his 
horse.  Giving  the  bridle  a  sudden  jerk  he  brought 
the  horse  to  his  haunches,  so  close  to  the  Inca,  that 
the  horse  snorted  with  fear,  but  the  brave  king  did 
not  move  a  muscle,  although  he  had  never  seen  a 
white  man  in  armor  nor  a  horse  before  in  his  life. 
Seeing  that  he  could  not  frighten  him  Pizarro 's 
brother  said  haughtily : 

' '  What  is  your  royal  will  ?  My  brother  desires 
that  you  visit  him." 

Without  raising  his  eyes  from  the  ground 
where  he  had  kept  them  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  his 
visitor,  the  Inca  smiled  and  said: 

"Tell  your  captain,  that  I  am  keeping  a  fast, 
which  will  end  tomorrow  morning.  I  will  then 
visit  him  with  my  chieftains.  In  the  meantime  let 
him  occupy  the  public  buildings  on  the  square  till  I 
come,  when  I  will  order  what  is  to  be  done. ' ' 

Turning  to  his  attendants  he  continued : 

"Give  our  brothers  food  and  drink,  and  have 
their  quarters  made  ready  for  them." 

That  night  Pizarro  put  all  his  cannon  in  place 
and  boldly  planned  to  take  the  Inca  prisoner  in 
his  own  pleasure  garden.  He  ordered  his  soldiers 
to  hide  in  the  plaza,  and  wait  until  the  Inca  arrived. 
As  soon  as  he  was  in  the  great  square  they  were 
suddenly  to  spring  out  and  put  the  natives  to  the 
sword,  and  capture  their  king. 

It  was  late  in  the  day  before  the  Inca  got  all 


THE    CHILD    OF    THE    SUN"  183 

his  court  in  splendid  array,  and  then  he  sent  word 
to  Pizarro  that  he  was  coming  in  state. 

i  i  I  am  much  pleased  to  hear  it, ' '  said  Pizarro. 
"Let  your  king  come  anyway  he  will;  he  shall  be 
received  as  a  friend  and  brother.  Let  him  sup 
with  us  and  sleep  in  our  quarters  tonight." 

When  once  in  motion  the  Inca's  retinue  had 
on  so  many  gold  ornaments  that  they  blazed  like 
the  sun.  Some  wore  showy  stuffs  in  white  and  red 
with  gold  and  silver  embroidery,  while  others  were 
dressed  in  white  and  carried  silver  maces  in  their 
hands.  The  Inca  wore  the  royal  borla,  or  crown 
on  his  head,  with  the  Quetzal  feathers  in  the  back 
and  the  long  red  fringes  across  the  forehead.  Over 
him  was  a  canopy  representing  a  rainbow,  to  show 
that  he  was  a  Child  of  the  Sun,  and  a  follower  of 
Manco-Capac,  who  we  know  was  the  Golden 
Hearted.  He  was  seated  on  a  gold  throne  which 
was  placed  in  a  litter  and  carried  by  four  noble 
youths,  in  gorgeous  liveries.  Around  his  neck  was 
a  splendid  gold  necklace  set  with  large  emeralds. 
Looking  around  and  not  seeing  any  one  the  Inca 
asked  in  surprise : 

"Where  are  the  strangers!" 

At  this  moment  a  padre  came  forward  and 
demanded  that  he  give  up  his  power  and  become  a 
subject  of  Spain.  He  also  told  the  king  that  he 
must  become  a  convert  to  Christianity.  The  eyes 
of  the  Inca  flashed  fire  as  he  replied : 

"I  will  be  no  man's  tributary.  Your  prince 
may  be  great ;  I  do  not  doubt  it  when  I  see  that  he 


184          THE    STORIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

has  sent  his  subjects  so  far  across  the  waters.  I 
am  willing  to  hold  him  as  a  brother.  As  for  my 
faith,  I  will  not  change  it.  My  God  still  lives  in 
the  heavens  and  looks  down  on  his  children.  By 
what  authority  do  you  make  such  demands  upon 
me?" 

The  padre  handed  the  Inca  a  bible  but  as  the 
thought  of  the  insult  offered  came  over  him,  the 
Inca  threw  it  to  the  ground  and  said  angrily: 

"Tell  your  comrades  that  they  shall  give  me 
an  account  of  their  doings  in  my  country.  I  will 
not  go  from  here  until  they  have  made  me  full 
satisfaction  for  the  wrongs  they  have  committed." 

A  soldier  turned  to  Pizarro  and  said : 

".Do  you  not  see  that  while  we  stand  here 
wasting  our  breath  in  talking  to  this  dog  full  of 
obstinate  pride  that  the  fields  are  filling  with 
Indians.  Let  us  set  on  at  once." 

Pizarro  saw  that  the  hour  had  come,  and 
waving  a  white  scarf  which  was  the  appointed 
signal  he  and  his  soldiers  sprang  into  the  square, 
shouting  the  old  war  cry  of  Cortez : 

1  i  Santiago !  and  at  them ! ' ' 

The  poor  natives  in  thir  holiday  dress  and 
line  jewelry  were  wholly  unarmed,  because  they 
were  coming  to  make  a  visit,  and  had  no  way  to 
defend  themselves.  When  they  tried  to  escape  they 
found  they  were  hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by  the  stone 
buildings  facing  the  plaza,  and  nobody  knows  how 
many  thousands  of  them  were  killed.  They  were 
stunned  by  the  roar  of  the  cannon,  choked  by  the 


THEIR     NAKED     BODIES    HACKED    TO     PIECES    WITH     SWORDS 

Sec  next  page 


186  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO     . 

smoke,  trampled  under  the  horses'  feet,  and  their 
naked  bodies  hacked  to  pieces  with  swords. 

The  Spaniards  seemed  bent  upon  killing  the 
Inca,  but  his  loyal  subjects  caught  hold  of  the  horses ' 
bridles  and  saddle  blankets,  and  even  the  legs  of 
their  riders  to  prevent  them  from  hitting  the  Inca. 
Some  offered  their  own  bodies  to  the  lances — any- 
thing to  save  the  king  who  was  stunned  and 
bewildered.  As  the  men  who  were  carrying  him 
were  killed,  the  litter  lurched  to  one  side  and  he 
fell  to  the  ground.  Instantly  the  imperial  borla, 
or  crown,  was  snatched  from  his  head;  his  hands 
were  securely  tied,  and  he  was  hustled,  a  prisoner, 
into  a  building  nearby.  Then  the  soldiery  robbed 
and  pillaged  as  much  as  they  pleased,  even  carrying 
off  the  plate  from  the  Inca's  table. 

Realizing  that  it  was  gold  that  the  Spaniards 
wanted,  the  Tnca  began  at  once  to  try  to  buy  his 
freedom. 

"I  will  cover  the  floor  of  this  room  with  gold 
if  you  will  release  me, ' '  he  said,  to  Pizarro.  Seeing 
that  the  soldiers  smiled  at  this,  he  added : 

"I  will  fill  the  room  full,  as  high  as  I  can 
reach, ' '  standing  on  tip-toe  and  stretching  his  arm 
against  the  wall.  Pizarro  agreed  to  accept  that 
amount  of  gold,  but  demanded  double  that  amount 
of  silver,  and  would  only  allow  the  Inca  two 
months'  time  to  collect  it  in.  The  Spaniards  kept 
close  watch  over  him,  and  as  soon  as  the  amount 
was  all  paid  in,  Pizarro  accused  the  unhappy  cap- 
tive of  trying  to  stir  up  an  insurrection.  The  Inca 
was  surprised  and  indignant;  saying: 


THE    CHILD    OF    THE    SUN  187 

"You  have  me  in  your  power.  Is  not  my  life 
at  your  disposal?  What  better  security  have  you 
for  my  fidelity?  It  is  very  far  to  my  capital  at 
Cuzco,  but  that  you  may  be  satisfied  that  I  am  pro- 
ceeding in  good  faith,  send  some  of  your  own  people 
there. " 

The  Spaniards  sacked  and  pillaged  Cuzco  when 
they  got  there,  taking  seven  hundred  plates  of  gold 
from  the  walls  of  the  temple  dedicated  to  the 
Golden  Hearted.  Besides  this,  there  were  heavy 
cornices  of  gold,  fountains,  birds,  fruit,  vegetables, 
tables,  statues,  slabs,  basins  and  panels  of  pure 
gold;  which,  when  melted  down  made  millions  of 
dollars. 

Never  before  did  anybody  in  the  wide  world 
pay  such  a  ransom.  But  Pizarro  had  no  intention 
of  setting  the  Inca  free.  Pretending  to  be  very  sus- 
picious, he  suddenly  appeared  before  the  Inca,  and 
said: 

' '  What  new  treason  is  this  you  are  meditating 
against  me?  Me,  who  has  been  so  brotherly  and 
kind  to  you!" 

"Why  do  you  mock  me,"  replied  the  Inca. 
"Am  I  not  a  captive  in  your  hands?  How  could 
I  conceive  such  a  design  as  you  speak  of  when  I 
would  be  the  first  victim?  You  little  know  my 
people,  if  you  think  they  would  attempt  such  a 
thing  against  my  will." 

Pizarro  was  determined  to  get  rid  of  him,  so 
he  trumped  up  twelve  charges  against  him,  and, 
after  a  mock  trial,  sentenced  the  helpless  Inca  to 
be  burned  at  the  stake. 


188  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

When  told  of  his  fate,  the  poor  king  said  to 
Pizarro,  with  tears  streaming  down  his  face: 

"What  have  I,  or  my  children  done,  that  I 
should  die  like  this?  And  from  your  hands— you 
who  have  received  only  benefit  and  kindness  from 
me  and  my  people." 

The  doom  of  the  Inca  was  sounded  by  trumpet 
in  the  same  square  he  had  innocently  entered  to 
visit  his  strange  white  brother,  and  two  hours  after 
sunset  he  was  led  out  by  torch-light  and  burned 
to  death. 

To  make  sure  that  there  was  no  danger  of  an 
uprising  in  the  distant  parts  of  the  country,  Pizarro 
sent  an  officer  to  finish  collecting  the  ransom  and 
find  out  the  actual  condition.  While  he  was  gone 
Pizarro  had  the  Inca  executed.  When  the  officer 
returned,  he  said : 

"I  have  met  with  nothing  but  kindness  on  the 
way.  There  has  never  been  any  attempt  at  an 
uprising. ' ' 

And  this  was  the  truth. 


The    Gilded    Man 


HEKE  were  none  willing  to  say 
"God  forgive  him/'  is  what 
history  tells  us  of  the  end  of 
Pizarro,  whose  throat  was  cut 
by  some  of  the  men  he  quar- 
reled with  over  the  treasures 
they  had  taken  from  the  Child- 
ren of  the  Sun,  and  I  do  not 
believe  that  any  one  was  ever  sorry  that  he 
perished  like  a  wretched  outcast.  Of  course,  one 
of  his  brothers  had  heard  of  El  Dorado,  and  he 
began  to  inquire  closely  of  the  Indians  whether 
tb ere  really  was  such  a  person. 

"Yes,  there  is,"  he  was  told,  "and  this  chief 
smears  himself  all  over  with  a  sweet-smelling  gum 
and  sprinkles  his  body  with  fine  gold-dust  until 
he  looks  like  a  shining  statue." 
"Where  does  this  chief  live?" 
"Not  far  from  here,  and  his  people  are  very 
rich  in  gold  and  emeralds." 

This  was  what  the  Spaniards  wanted  to  hear, 
and  the  Children  of  the  Sun  hoped  by  this  means 
to  get  rid  of  their  hated  conquerors.  We 
remember  the  visit  of  the  Golden  Hearted  to  the 
Zipa  of  the  Muscas,  and  we  see,  by  the  unfriendly 
feeling  of  their  neighbors,  that  they  were  still 
quarrelsome. 


190  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"We  will  go  and  find  the  Valley  of  the  Gilded 
Man,"  said  the  brother  of  Pizarro,  to  his  soldiers, 
who  were  getting  tired  of  being  idle.  "I  am  told 
that  there  are  wealthy  regions  to  the  north,  east,  and 
south  of  us,  where  the  people  go  about  covered  with 
gold-dust,  and  where  there  are  no  mountains  or 
woods." 

This  pleased  the  greedy  adventurers  very 
much,  and  it  was  not  long  before  there  was  quite 
an  army  of  them  ready  to  start.  But  they  did  not 
know  that  they  were  going  into  a  country  where 
there  were  cannibals — savages  ready  to  kill  and  eat 
every  one  of  them,  and  that  they  fought  with  pois- 
oned arrows.  The  Muscas  were  obliged  to  fight 
these  people,  but  they  traded  with  them,  because 
there  was  no  gold  in  their  own  land,  and  they 
prized  it  highly  as  an  offering  in  honor  of  the 
Golden  Hearted.  They  had  quantities  of  salt  which 
they  pressed  into  little  round  cakes,  like  sugar 
loaves,  and  carried  over  beaten  paths  to  market. 
Besides  this,  they  wove  beautiful  cotton  cloth,  and 
managed  to  get  large  quantities  of  gold  and  silver 
and  emeralds  by  trading  with  the  cannibals. 

They  had  not  forgotten  what  the  Golden 
Hearted  taught  them  about  hammering  the  gold, 
or  casting  it  into  tasteful  shapes,  and  they  not  only 
wore  it  for  ornaments,  but  used  it  to  decorate  the 
outside  and  inside  of  their  temples.  It  was  near 
the  anniversary  of  his  departure,  and  there  were 
many  pilgrims  from  neighboring  tribes  who  had 
come  to  cast  emeralds  into  the  lake  at  Gautavita  in 


THE    GILDED    MAN  191 

his  honor.  On  the  mountain  tops  surrounding  the 
lake  beacon  lights  were  burning,  and  the  sacred 
fires  on  the  altars  in  the  temples  had  never  been 
allowed  to  go  out.  As  each  band  of  pilgrims  came 
into  the  city,  the  Zipa  welcomed  them,  saying: 

"Tomorrow,  comrades,  we  will  go  in  solemn 
procession  to  the  lake,  and  commemorate  the  depart- 
ure of  Bochica,  and  his  purification  afterward. 
We  have  made  his  heart  very  sad  by  our  misdeeds, 
but  from  his  home  in  the  sun  he  can  look  down 
upon  us,  and  see  that  we  still  adore  and  worship 
him." 

The  next  day,  at  noon  a  solemn  procession 
approached  the  lake.  In  the  lead  walked  bronze- 
colored  men,  without  any  clothing,  but  whose  bodies 
were  covered  with  red  paint,  as  a  sign  of  deep 
mourning,  and  they  wailed  in  a  most  sorrowful 
manner.  Behind  them  were  warriors  decorated 
with  gold  and  emeralds,  wearing  bright  feathers 
in  their  gold  head-dresses,  and  carrying  mantles 
of  jaguar  skins  over  their  arms.  Some  of  them 
were  singing,  while  others  shouted  joyfully  or  blew 
on  horns  and  pipes,  and  conch  shells.  Close  to 
them  were  priests  in  black  robes,  with  white  crosses 
on  them,  and  tall  black  hats,  like  those  worn  by 
the  wise  men.  In  the  rear  was  the  Zipa  riding  in 
a  kind  of  gilded  wheelbarrow  hung  with  disks  of 
gold.  His  naked  body  had  been  anointed  with  a 
resinous  gum,  and  covered  all  over  with  fine  gold- 
dust. 

Arrived  at  the  shore,  the  Gilded  Man  and  his 


192  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

companions  stepped  upon  a  balsa  gay  with  stream- 
ers and  loaded  with  flowers,  and  rowed  out  into 
the  middle  of  the  lake.  There  the  Zipa,  who  was 
the  Gilded  Man,  plunged  into  the  water  and  washed 
off  all  the  gold-dust.  While  he  was  doing  this  his 
companions,  with  music  and  singing,  threw  in  the 
gold  and  emeralds  they  had  brought  out  on  the  lake 
for  that  purpose.  Coming  back  to  the  shore  the 
Zipa  said: 

"Do  no  more  work  for  this  day,  but  make 
merry  with  singing,  dancing  and  feasting,  as  if 
the  gentle,  kind  Bochica  were  with  you  again." 

All  this  time  Pizarro's  brother,  and  his  greedy 
soldiers,  were  wandering  around  in  the  mountains 
trying  to  find  the  Gilded  Man.  If  they  could  have 
seen  him  covered  with  gold  at  the  festival,  they 
would  probably  have  tried  to  skin  him  alive  to  get 
the  gold  dust  on  his  body.  One  of  the  padres,  who 
came  to  convert  and  teach  the  natives,  writing  to 
the  king  of  Spain,  said: 

"I  do  not  believe  that  the  men  taking  part  in 
the  expeditions  in  search  of  the  Gilded  Man,  would 
have  tried  so  hard  to  get  into  Paradise." 

Further  on  in  his  letter  the  padre  describes 
the  terrible  hardships  and  suffering  the  men  had  to 
undergo.  After  telling  about  their  failure  to  find 
El  Dorado,  he  says : 

"The  men  and  officers  returned  to  us  nearly 
naked.  In  the  warm  rain  their  clothes  had 
rotted  on  their  backs,  and  were  torn  into  shreds  by 
the  thickets  they  had  crawled  through  on  their 


THE    GILDED    MAN  193 

hands  and  knees.  Their  feet  were  bare  and 
wounded  by  the  thorns  and  roots  in  the  pathways, 
and  their  swords  were  not  only  without  sheaths, 
but  were  eaten  up  with  rust.  Hunger  compelled 
them  to  kill  and  eat  their  horses  and  dogs." 

While  this  had  been  going  on  in  Peru,  the 
King  of  Spain  was  busy  sending  out  men  for  the 
same  purpose.  The  story  of  the  Gilded  Man  was 
known  over  all  Europe,  and  other  nations,  besides 
Spain,  were  trying  to  find  him.  Some  German 
bankers  had  loaned  the  king  large  sums  of  money 
for  the  privilege  of  searching  for  El  Dorado,  and 
the  first  white  men  to  visit  Gautavita  was  a  band  of 
Germans  sent  out  by  the  banking  house.  They 
wanted  slaves  as  well  as  gold,  and  were  just  as 
merciless  and  cruel  as  the  Spaniards.  In  fact,  any 
man  having  money  enough  to  buy  boats,  or  to  pro- 
vision men,  stole  off  into  the  woods  and  went  in 
search  of  the  Gilded  Man.  The  country  was  over- 
run with  armed  bands  of  adventurers  who  were 
ready  to  commit  any  kind  of  crime  for  the  sake  of 
gain.  Whoever  offered  resistance  was  killed,  and 
they  were  suspicious  and  jealous  of  each  other, 
as  well  as  of  the  Indians. 

After  Pizarro  's  brother  made  such  a  miserable 
failure,  and  had  to  endure  such  bitter  hardships 
one  would  expect  his  friends  and  associates  to  be 
careful  about  making  another  venture,  but  they 
knew  of  the  German  invaders,  and  then  it  was  a 
race  to  see  who  would  get  hold  of  the  Gilded  Man 
first.  Either  side  would  have  killed  him  and  burned 


194  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

and  pillaged  the  city,  so  the  Indians  had  learned  to 
distrust  and  hate  all  white  men,  and  they  made 
war  on  both  the  Spaniards  and  Germans  whenever 
they  had  an  opportunity. 

A  young  Spanish  lieutenant,  named  Quesada, 
was  the  real  conqueror  of  the  Muscas,  and,  as  might 
have  been  expected,  he  murdered  the  Zipa  and 
robbed  Gautavita,  and  every  other  village  in  the 
kingdom.  He  was  as  hard-hearted  with  his  men, 
as  he  was  with  the  Indians,  and  after  five  hundred 
of  them  had  died  from  exposure  on  the  way,  they 
found  themselves  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  over- 
flowing rivers.  Weeping  and  dejected  they  sought 
Quesada,  saying: 

"We  beseech  you  to  send  us  back  to  Peru. 
Instead  of  gold,  only  hunger,  misery  and  death 
await  us  here.  The  Gilded  Man  only  exists  in  the 
distorted  fancy  of  those  who  believe  the  lying  tales 
of  the  Indians." 

At  this  juncture  they  stumbled  on  to  a  path 
with  huts,  at  intervals,  by  the  wayside,  filled  with 
the  white  cakes  of  salt  said  to  come  from  the  home 
of  the  Gilded  Man,  and  they  also  found  some  cotton 
cloth. 

"We  are  on  the  right  road  at  last,"  said 
Quesada,  to  his  dispirited  soldiery.  "Prove  faith- 
ful now,  and  we  shall  soon  stand  face  to  face  with 
El  Dorado."  With  a  significant  nod  of  the  head, 
he  added  :  * '  You  know  what  that  means  to  fearless 
men,  like  yourselves,  and  you  can  trust  to  the  gen- 
erosity of  your  captain  for  a  rich  reward." 


THE    GILDED    MAN  195 

The  prospect  of  getting  plenty  of  gold  soon 
caused  the  men  to  forget  all  about  their  troubles, 
but  the  Zipa  not  only  fought  them  stubbornly,  but 
when  he  was  finally  compelled  to  abandon  Gauta- 
vita,  there  was  no  treasure  to  be  found.  The 
Muscas  had  either  buried  all  their  gold  and  emer- 
alds, or  thrown  them  into  the  lake.  Great,  indeed, 
was  the  disappointment  of  the  Spaniards,  and  for 
his  own  safety  Quesada  soon  planned  another  expe- 
dition against  a  neighboring  tribe  of  Indians.  The 
strange  chief  was  surprised  and  captured  in  the 
Council  House,  and  with  him  perished  all  of  the 
notable  men  of  the  tribe.  The  soldiers  found  some 
gold  and  some  very  fine  emeralds,  but  when 
they  went  to  sack  the  Temple  of  the  Sun,  which 
had  a  thatched  roof,  they  carelessly  set  the  dry 
leaves  on  fire,  and  burned  all  the  plate  and  other 
treasures  it  contained.  Bands  of  armed  men  rode 
hither  and  yon  looking  for  the  Zipa,  whom  they  now 
believed  to  be  the  Gilded  Man.  He  kept  in  very 
close  hiding,  and  no  amount  of  torture,  or  promises 
of  reward  could  make  his  followers  tell  where  he 
was,  or  where  the  gold  ornaments  and  vessels  were 
hidden. 

"He  is  in  the  mountain  fastnesses,  where  he 
has  a  house  made  of  gold,"  declared  some  irre- 
sponsible Indians,  glad  to  get  rid  of  the  cruel 
Spaniards. 

"Where  is  the  house  located?"  Quesada  asked, 
eagerly. 


196  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"Some  of  the  Indians  say  it  is  in  the  north, 
some  say  the  south,  some  say  near  by,  and  others 
far  away, ' '  answered  his  servant. 

"Very  well,  we  will  search  in  all  directions 
until  we  find  the  miserable  dog,  and  when  we  do 
it  shall  go  hard  with  him. ' ' 

It  took  them  several  months  to  hunt  him  down, 
and  when  they  did  find  him  he  could  not  be  induced 
to  tell  anything  about  the  treasures. 

"I  have  a  house  of  gold  in  the  sun  where  my 
master  and  lord,  Bochica  lives.  I  go  to  him,  whom 
I  have  faithfully  served  all  my  life." 

After  his  death  a  new  governor  was  sent  from 
Peru,  and  he  undertook  to  drain  the  lake  to  get  the 
treasures  of  gold  and  emeralds  which  had  been 
thrown  into  it  in  honor  of  the  Golden  Hearted.  The 
Muscas  were  told  that  the  new  Governor  would 
be  kind  to  them  if  they  would  tell  where  they  had 
hidden  their  wealth,  but  one  of.  their  priests  said : 

"Do  you  think  a  river  will  run  up  hill?" 

The  new  Governor,  hearing  the  remark,  turned 
to  him,  and  said: 

"No,  it  is  not  possible  for  water  to  run  up 
hill.  Why  do  you  ask  such  a  foolish  question1?" 

' '  How  then,  do  you  expect  me  to  believe  in  the 
existence  of  a  white  man  who  will  be  just  to  us? 
One  thing  is  quite  as  possible  as  the  other. ' ' 

And  to  this  day  no  one  knows  what  became  of 
the  riches  of  the  brave  Muscas,  but  it  is  said  that 
they  still  remember  the  Golden  Hearted,  and  in 
secret,  offer  gold  and  emeralds  in  his  honor. 


The  White  Sea  of  the  Manoas 


HE  death  of  the  Zipa  and  the  complete 
subjugation  of  the  Muscas,  did  not  cause 
people  to  forget  the  story  of  El  Dorado. 
On  the  contrary  other  nations  soon 
began  to  fit  out  expeditions  to  search  for  him,  and 
they  went  into  some  dreadful  places  in  South 
America  thinking  they  would  find  him. 

"What  ails  that  dog  of  an  Indian !"  asked 
Aguirre,  the  tyrant,  and  the  worst  of  all  the  Span- 
ish adventurers  looking  for  gold. 

' '  He  has  fainted  from  fatigue, ' '  answered  one 
of  his  men. 

"Then  cut  off  his  head.  We  have  no  time  to 
waste  on  these  slaves.'7 

"Let  us  unfasten  the  chain  around  his  neck, 
and  then  he  can  drop  behind  the  rest  of  the  gang, ' ' 
pleaded  some  of  the  Indians,  who  were  being  used 
to  help  the  horses  carry  the  baggage. 


198  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"It  will  take  too  long,  and  the  whole  chain- 
gang  of  men  would  have  to  wait  until  we  could 
unfasten  his  neckband  and  put  some  one  else  in 
his  place.  Chop  off  his  head  with  this  sword,  and 
go  on. ' ' 

The  other  officers  tried  to  console  the  terrified 
Indians  by  saying : 

"If  we  were  to  leave  him  lying  by  the  road- 
side, some  wild  animal  would  come  along  and  eat 
him,  so  it  is  just  as  well  for  him  as  if  we  had  done 
as  you  wished." 

Many  people  now  say  that  Aguirre  was  insane, 
and  to  this  day  the  poor  Christian  Indians  cross 
themselves  when  they  hear  strange  noises  at  night, 
and  exclaim : 

"It  is  the  soul  of  the  tyrant  Aguirre,  who 
plunged  a  dagger  through  the  heart  of  his  own 
daughter  when  the  King's  officers  came  to  arrest 
and  punish  him  for  his  cruelties.  He  is  doomed 
to  wander  over  the  swamps  at  night,  and  wail  over 
his  terrible  sins.  His  soul  can  never  be  at  rest." 

Like  thistle-down  scattered  by  the  wind,  were 
the  wonderful  tales  of  El  Dorado.  No  matter  where 
white  men  went  they  failed  to  find  it,  but  the  cun- 
ning Indians  always  told  them  that  it  was  still 
farther  away,  because  they  wanted  to  get  rid  of 
the  unwelcome  visitors,  who  tortured  and  enslaved, 
as  well  as  robbed  them. 

Finally  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  who  helped  col- 
onize the  state  of  Virginia,  and  named  it  for  Good 
Queen  Bess  of  England,  heard  about  the  city  of 


THE    WHITE    SEA    OF    MANOAS  199 

Omagua,  and  the  White  Sea  of  the  Manoas,  and 
he  determined  to  find  them,  because  there,  he 
believed,  was  El  Dorado. 

Some  English  sailors  under  his  command 
traded  some  pieces  of  old  iron  to  the  Indians  for 
shields  of  gold. 

"Where  did  you  get  this  metal!"  was  asked 
of  the  Indians. 

"In  Omagua,  where  the  tiles  on  the  roofs  of 
the  houses  are  made  from  the  same  glittering  sub- 
stance, and  where  we  hang  crescents  of  it  in  front 
of  our  doors  to  keep  away  evil  spirits. ' ' 

"What  they  say  must  be  true, ' '  said  the  sailors 
among  themselves,  "for  they  have  gold  crowns  on 
their  heads,  and  breast-plates  and  earrings." 

* l  Where  is  this  city  of  Omagua  ? ' '  again  asked 
the  men. 

1  i  It  is  very  far  south,  and  is  on  a  lake  of  gold. 
Our  chief  lives  in  the  House  of  the  Sun,  and  has 
many  green  stones  in  his  shield  and  on  the  walls 
of  the  temples." 

* '  What  is  the  name  of  your  chief  ? ' ' 

"El  Dorado,"  answered  the  Indians,  anxious 
that  the  white  men  should  know  that  they  could 
speak  their  language. 

"It  is  all  plain  to  me,"  said  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  when  told  of  it.  "Those  Spanish  adven- 
turers have  failed  to  find  the  real  El  Dorado.  We 
will  search  for  it  ourselves." 

*  *  The  Indians  say  there  are  whole  streets  filled 
with  workers  in  gold  and  precious  stones, ' '  said  one 


200  THE    STORIES    OE    EL    DORADO 

of  his  officers,  "and  I  dare  say  we  shall  make  our 
enterprise  quite  profitable."  So  they,  too,  were 
looking  for  gold,  only  their  methods  were  not  so 
barbarous  and  cruel  as  the  others  had  been. 

As  they  went  farther  into  the  country  they 
found  a  numerous  band  of  Indians  with  flat  heads, 
and  when  they  examined  the  babies  carried  on  the 
backs  of  their  mothers  it  was  seen  that  they  had 
tied  a  board  across  the  forehead  so  that  it  would 
sink  in  and  leave  the  head  pointed  and  flat  in  front. 

"Why  do  you  treat  your  heads  in  this  man- 
ner?" some  one  asked  their  chief. 

"Because  our  fathers  did  so,  and  we  think  it 
makes  us  beautiful, ' '  he  answered.  In  that  country 
there  are  still  plenty  of  flat-headed  Indians.  As  the 
men  marched  along  they  came  to  trees  with  holes 
cut  through  the  bark,  and  little  earthen  pots  hang- 
ing under  them  to  catch  the  sticky-looking  milk 
that  oozed  out. 

' '  Can  this  be  something  good  to  eat ! ' '  the  men 
said.  "Let  us  taste  it  and  see." 

"Ugh!  it  has  a  nasty,  disagreeable,  bitter 
flavor,"  said  the  speaker,  licking  his  finger  after 
he  had  stuck  it  down  into  the  pot.  "It  smells  so 
badly  that  it  makes  me  feel  sick,"  he  continued, 
spitting  it  out  quickly. 

"Here  comes  an  old  woman  with  some  nuts 
from  the  palm  tree  she  has  been  shaking  in  her 
hands.  Let  us  ask  her  what  this  stuff  is  good  for. ' ' 

But  the  old  woman  evidently  did  not  have  a 
very  good  opinion  of  white  men,  and  would  not 
speak  to  them  at  all. 


THE    WHITE    SEA    OE    MANOAS 


201 


"We  can  watch  her,"  they  said,  "and  see 
whether  she  intends  to  eat  it." 

She  paid  no  attention  to  them,  but  went  on 
making  a  fire  out  of  the  palm  nuts  and  some  dry 
leaves,  and  as  soon  as  they  blazed  brightly  she  set 
the  little  pot  near  the  fire  and  began  stirring  the 
milk  with  a  wooden  paddle  she  carried  in  her  hand. 
As  soon  as  the  blaze  smouldered,  she  held  the 
paddle  over  it  until  the  milk  began  to  get  thick. 
Then  she  dipped  it  back  into  the  pot  and  repeated 
the  process  until  there  was  enough  coating  to  scrape 
off  and  make  a  flat  cake. 


202          THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"Will  you  please  give  me  the  biscuit!" 
inquired  one  of  the  bystanders.  Without  a  word  the 
old  woman  threw  it  at  him,  and  when  he  caught  it 
in  his  hands,  he  exclaimed : 

"It  is  India  rubber!  Now  we  can  have  a 
game  of  ball!"  As  it  was  still  warm  he  rounded 
it  into  shape  with  his  hands,  and  then  he  and  his 
companions  amused  themselves  for  quite  a  while 
throwing  the  ball  against  the  trees  and  catching  it 
as  it  bounded  back.  While  they  were  engaged  in 
this  sport  the  cooks  were  preparing  them  something 
to  eat,  but  the  forest  was  full  of  monkeys  swinging 
themselves  from  one  tree  to  another  by  their  long 
tails  and  seemingly  very  much  interested  in  what 
the  men  underneath  them  were  doing. 

Now,  we  all  know  that  a  monkey  imitates  every- 
thing it  sees,  and  so  the  whole  band  began  to  go 
through  the  motion  of  throwing.  As  soon  as  they 
found  out  there  was  something  to  eat  they  bobbed 
their  heads  and  screeched  and  chattered  in  great 
excitement.  Every  time  the  cook's  back  was  turned 
they  slid  down  a  limb  of  the  tree  and  grabbed  a 
dish  and  scampered  back  again.  They  had  such 
solemn  little  faces,  and  were  so  quick  about  it, 
that  the  men  shouted  with  laughter,  but  when  they 
sat  down  to  eat,  the  monkeys  jumped  out  of  the 
trees  and  rushed  for  the  food. 

The  old  Indian  woman,  comprehending  the 
situation,  approached  camp  and  said : 

"Will  the  white  chief  let  me  cook  something 
for  the  monkevs!" 


THE    WHITE    SEA    OF    MANOAS  203 

"What  do  you  want  to  feed  them?" 

"A  pot  of  rice,"  she  answered,  "such  as  I 
know  well  how  to  prepare." 

No  one  made  any  objection,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  she  had  a  big  pan  full  of  boiled  rice, 
which  she  had  made  almost  red  with  pepper. 
Taking  a  wide,  green  leaf,  she  laid  it  down  and 
poured  the  rice  out  to  cool.  No  sooner  had  she 
done  so  than  the  monkeys  swarmed  around  the  pile, 
and  squatting  beside  it  began  to  eat  by  the  handful. 
Tears  ran  down  their  faces  and  water  poured  from 
their  mouths,  but  they  kept  on  eating  for  a  few 
minutes.  Then,  suddenly  seeming  to  suspect  each 
other  of  being  to  blame,  they  commenced  fighting 
with  sticks  and  stones  until  they  scattered  the  rice 
all  over  the  ground.  By  this  time  the  pepper  was 
burning  their  mouths  worse  than  ever,  and  not 
knowing  what  was  the  matter  they  set  up  a  doleful 
howling,  and  ran  pell-mell  into  the  river  quite  a 
distance  from  cam]).  They  tumbled  into  the  water 
and  rolled  and  wallowed  in  it,  but  it  was  some 
little  time  before  their  mouths  quit  smarting,  and 
they  were  very  willing  to  let  the  men  alone. 

The  dogs  belonging  to  the  party  gave  chase, 
but  the  monkeys  screamed  so  that  they  awoke  the 
alligators  sleeping  in  the  sun  on  the  river  bank, 
and  then  the  dogs  had  to  run  for  their  lives.  One 
or  two  of  them  barely  escaped  being  caught  in  the 
wide  open  mouths  of  these  monsters.  It  was  very 
much  cooler  when  the  sun  went  down,  but  that 
brought  out  the  inosquitos,  and  the  men  were 


204          THE    STOEIES    OF    EL   DORADO 

obliged  to  sit  in  the  smoke  to  save  themselves  from 
being  bitten  dreadfully.  They  kept  the  fire  going 
all  night,  because  they  were  afraid  of  the  jaguars 
and  panthers  hidden  in  the  woods  during  the  day, 
but  ready  to  kill  and  eat  anything  they  might  find 
in  their  night  prowls. 

It  was  considered  safer  out  of  doors  than  in 
the  tents,  but  it  was  impossible  to  sleep  on  account 
of  the  hideous  noises  made  by  the  animals,  monkeys, 
birds  and  snakes. 

"Why  do  these  creatures  keep  up  such  a  ter- 
rible din?"  asked  the  men  of  their  Indian  guides. 

"Because  they  are  keeping  the  feast  of  the 
full  moon,"  they  replied,  and  this  appeared  to  be 
a  settled  belief  among  them. 

"Men  put  the  jaguar  out  of  humor,"  they 
explained.  "He  is  a  very  selfish  beast,  and  if  he 
cannot  rule  alone  he  goes  to  his  den  and  sulks.  He 
will  follow  a  man  all  day  through  the  woods  and 
will  not  spring  upon  him  unless  he  tries  to  run  or 
moves  his  arms.  If  you  think  one  is  following  you 
do  not  look  back  and  do  not  trust  anything  but 
the  sharp  blade  of  your  sword.  The  noise  of  a 
gun  only  infuriates  him. ' ' 

As  the  men  heard  this  they  imagined  they  could 
see  the  yellow  eyes  glaring  at  them  in  the  dark- 
ness, and  some  thought  they  smelled  him. 

"He  is  a  ferocious,  blood-thirsty  beast,"  said 
the  Indians  in  conclusion,  ' '  and  you  may  well  think 
yourselves  fortunate  when  you  leave  these  tropic 
forests  and  get  out  into  the  open  plains. ' ' 


THE    WHITE    SEA    OF    MANOAS  205 

The  men  would  have  agreed  with  him  if  it  had 
not  been  for  the  intense  heat,  and  a  terrible  sand- 
storm that  almost  blinded  them  for  days  when  it 
did  not  blow  so  hard  that  they  could  make  no 
headway  against  it.  Finally,  footsore,  weary,  and 
almost  discouraged,  they  came  to  a  wide  and  deep 
river,  and  here  the  Indian  guides  brought  them 
boats,  which  they  called  pirogues. 

"We  are  not  far  from  the  lake  of  gold  beside 
the  city  of  the  Manoas, "  they  said,  and  when  the 
delighted  soldiers  inquired  particularly,  they 
responded  readily: 

"We  have  these  things  from  our  fathers  and 
other  men  wise  in  the  traditions  and  sayings  of 
our  people,  but  we  are  afraid  to  go  any  further, 
for  the  Manoans  are  a  fierce  and  warlike  race. ' ' 

About  this  time  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  learned 
that  the  Queen  was  not  pleased  with  his  efforts  in 
search  of  the  El  Dorado,  and  he  decided  to  with- 
draw his  men  and  abandon  the  attempt. 

But  this  did  not  hinder  other  men  from  trying 
to  solve  the  mystery.  It  was  more  than  a  hundred 
years  before  the  truth  was  finally  known,  and  then 
a  scientist  discovered  that  the  location  itself  had 
shifted  and  was  nearly  as  much  changed  as  the 
ideas  about  El  Dorado.  He  traced  the  legend  to 
Lake  Parima,  near  the  center  of  South  America, 
and  said: 

"This  is  really  the  White  Sea  of  the  Manoas, 
which  people  have  long  believed  was  a  lake  of  gold. 
The  reason  the  Indians  thought  so  was  because 


206  THE    STOBIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

there  is  some  fine  gold-dust  in  the  washings  of  the 
sand,  which  has  plenty  of  mica  mixed  with  it. 
Then  there  is  a  large  quantity  of  salt  dried  on  the 
grass,  and  when  the  hot  sun  shines,  it  looks  at  a 
distance  as  if  it  were  a  great  sea  of  gold." 

"Are  the  houses  covered  with  gold  tiles!"  was 
the  next  inquiry. 

"No  indeed:  they  are  common  huts  with 
thatched  roofs  on  which  the  salt  and  mica  glisten 
and  sparkle  as  they  do  in  the  grass  and  sand." 

"Are  the  natives  warlike!  and  do  they  eat 
each  other,  as  we  have  been  told!" 

•"They  are  armed  with  javelins,  wooden  shields, 
bows  and  arrows,  and  a  short  sword  which  they 
make  for  themselves.  We  found  them  very  friendly, 
and  as  for  their  being  cannibals  that  is  all  imagina- 
tion, but  it  may  have  been  true  in  olden  times. ' ' 

And  this  is  really  what  people  spent  millions 
of  money  trying  to  find,  and  for  which  hundreds  of 
lives  were  uselessly  sacrificed. 


The  Mountain  of  Gold 

FEKY  far  to  the  north  of  Lake 
Parima,  is  the  celebrated  Roraima, 
the  "Mountain  of  Gold,"  one  of 
the  objects  sought  by  the  men  who 
were  looking  for  El  Dorado. 

*  *  Let  us  set  out  on  an  expedition 
to  see  if  we  cannot  solve  the 
mystery  of  this  mountain,  that  is 
not  only  rich  in  gold  and  precious 
stones,  but  grows  the  Plant  of  Life  in  abundance, 
which  keeps  one  alive  for  hundreds  of  years," 
said  some  idle  Cavaliers  who  had  become  reckless 
in  their  eagerness  to  acquire  sudden  riches. 

"But  they  say  Roraima  is  inaccessible,  so  what 
is  the  use  of  attempting  the  impossible?"  said  one 
of  the  party,  who  had  been  out  hunting. 

"I  believe  that  the  flat  top  of  the  mountain  is 
inhabited,  and  that  up  there  is  the  famous  island 
city  of  El  Dorado,"  responded  the  first  speaker. 
"There  is  almost  unlimited  wealth  to  be  had  by 
finding  it,  and  these  cowardly  Indians  are  afraid  to 
go  near  it." 

"It  will  be  a  long,  tedious  journey,"  said  the 
hunter,  * l  and  I  doubt  if  we  can  persuade  the  slaves 
to  accompany  us. " 

"They  shall  go,"  said  the  other,  firmly,  "and 
if  there  is  any  sign  of  rebellion  we  have  a  remedy, " 


208  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

he  continued,  pointing  to  his  gun  with  a  smile  that 
was  not  pleasant  to  see. 

It  was  as  the  hunter  feared.  The  Indian 
porters  and  servants  were  nearly  frantic  at  the  idea 
of  being  compelled  to  approach  the  dread  mountain. 

* t  The  whole  place  is  weird  and  uncanny, ' '  they 
declared,  "and  the  demon  mountain  is  surrounded 
by  haunted  woods,  filled  with  camoodis  and 
didis." 

When  asked  what  a  camoodi  was,  they 
explained  that  it  was  a  gigantic  snake  with  a  hood 
over  its  head,  and  whose  breath  killed  whatever  it 
touched,  while  the  didis  were  man  apes,  ferocious 
and  terrible  to  see. 

"It  is  a  foolish  superstition,"  said  the  Span- 
iards, in  derision,  "and  we  will  not  listen  to  such 
idle  tales." 

"Roraima  is  an  island,  connected  underground 
with  the  other  mountains,  and  the  lights  you  see 
on  the  tops  are  put  there  by  the  demons  to  lure 
us  on  to  destruction." 

"If  it  is  inaccessible,  how  do  these  demons 
manage  to  get  up  there ! ' '  asked  the  Spaniards. 

' i  There  are  huge  white  eagles,  that  fly  so  high 
we  cannot  see  them;  but  they  have  very  fine  eye- 
sight, and  many  a  poor  brave  has  been  seized  by 
them,  and  carried  to  the  didis  on  the  mountain." 

' i  They  must  mean  the  big  white  birds  we  call 
condors,  found  in  the  highest  peaks  of  the  Andes," 
said  the  Spaniards,  "but  our  good  weapons  are 
proof  against  any  bird,  and  we  need  have  no  fear." 


THE    MOUNTAIN    OF    GOLD  209 

* '  As  soon  as  it  is  dark  in  those  terrible  woods, 
blood-sucking  vampires  swoop  down  from  the  trees 
and  fasten  their  long  red  bills  in  your  throat/' 
said  the  Indians,  with  a  shudder,  but  no  attention 
was  paid  to  anything  they  told  of  the  hardships  to 
be  endured. 

'  Mt  is  better  for  us  to  start  at  the  beginning  of 
the  dry  season,"  said  Carino,  the  Indian  guide, 
and  in  a  short  time  the  entire  party  was  voyaging 
on  one  of  the  splendid  rivers  that  span  that  country. 
In  canoes  they  passed  through  untracked  forests 
and  grassy  savannahs  following  the  course  of  the 
river.  Some  places  they  were  in  great  danger 
from  cataracts  and  rapids,  but  finally  landed  in  a 
place  where  there  was  a  flock  of  red  flamingos  half 
hidden  by  tall  pampas  grass,  and  where  there  were 
hundreds  of  little  wild  ducks  with  tiny  horns  on 
their  wings.  In  the  trees  were  some  rare  and 
beautiful  orchids,  and  when  some  of  the  party 
climbed  up  to  pick  the  big  perfumed  blossoms,  they 
were  much  surprised  to  find  that  what  they  thought 
was  a  flower  was  a  perfumed  butterfly. 

* '  We  must  be  near  the  enchanted  wood, ' '  said 
the  Spaniards,  but  just  then  they  heard  a  sort  of 
combination  of  whistle,  snort  and  hiss  that 
frightened  them  dreadfully: 

"Carino!  what  is  that?"  they  all  said,  hud- 
dling up  close  together,  and  listening  intently. 

"It  is  the  cry  of  the  Lost  Souls,  who  have 
been  slain  by  the  camoodi,"  said  Carino.  "We 
have  already  seen  their  strange  shapes  flitting1 


210          THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

through  the  deep  shadows.  They  are  in  league 
with  the  didi  to  guard  this  spot. ' '  As  he  spoke  the 
Indian  porters  and  slaves  began  a  curious  chant 
in  a  singsong  tone : 

Darkly  from  sunset  to  the  rising  sun, 
A  cry  as  of  the  pained  heart  of  the  wood, 
The  long  despairing  moan  of  solitude 
And  darkness  and  the  absence  of  all  good, 
Startles  the  traveler  with  a  sound  so  drear, 
So  full  of  hopeless  agony  and  fear, 
His  heart  stands  still  and  listens  with  his  ear, 
The  guide,  as  if  he  heard  a  death-bell  toll, 
Crosses  himself  and  whispers  "A  Lost  Soul." 

The  last  words  seemed  to  affect  Carino  deeply 
and  falling  on  his  knees  before  the  leader  of  the 
expedition  he  said : 

"My  heart  is  heavy  at  the  thought  of  your 
undertaking  to  fight  the  demons  of  the  mountain. 
It  is  not  good — this  thing  you  are  about  to  do. 
The  didis  may  tempt  you  to  enter  these  fatal  woods, 
but  they  will  trap  you  by  closing  the  trail  and  you 
will  never  be  seen  again." 

"We  will  encamp  here  for  the  night,  and  tomor- 
row at  sunrise  we  will  have  a  look  at  Roraima, " 
said  the  leader,  not  feeling  very  comfortable  over 
the  doleful  noise  called  the  wail  of  a  lost  soul. 
"It  may  be  that  these  Indians  are  not  so  far 
wrong,"  he  said  to  himself  when  their  backs  were 
turned.  "At  any  rate,  I  do  not  fancy  going  into 
the  woods  so  near  nightfall." 


THE    MOUNTAIN    OF    GOLD  211 

After  a  long  parley  Carino  succeeded  in  per- 
suading- the  porters  and  servants  to  venture  a  short 
distance  to  get  some  wood  for  cooking  and  other 
purposes.  They  had  not  been  gone  long  when  the 
Spaniards  heard  a  loud  roaring  bark,  almost  like 
a  trumpet,  quickly  followed  by  several  more  in 
the  immediate  vicinity.  Soon  the  Indians  came 
flying  into  camp  terror-stricken. 

"The  Warracaba  cats!"  they  shouted,  and 
before  the  Spaniards  could  stop  them,  they  had  all 
piled  into  the  canoes  and  were  rowing  for  the 
middle  of  the  river.  The  white  men  stood  with 
guns  raided  as  four  screaming  tigers  sprang  out 
of  the  woods  in  full  pursuit  of  the  Indians  they  had  - 
smelled,  but  not  seen.  Bang!  bang!  bang!  went 
the  guns  in  rapid  succession,  and  three  of  the  four 
tigers  rolled  on  the  ground  dead  or  dying,  while 
the  other  one  made  off  into  the  woods  as  fast  as  he 
could  go. 

"That  was  a  narrow  escape,  my  masters," 
said  Carino,  shaking  as  if  he  had  ague,  "and  the 
other  Warracaba  will  come  back  and  bring  com- 
panion?. These  tigers  hunt  in  packs  like  wolves, 
and  are  not  afraid  of  anything  except  deep  water." 

"What  are  we  to  do?"  asked  the  leader, 
gruffly,  pale  with  fright.  "Those  dastardly  slaves 
have  gone  off  and  left  us  without  a  single  boat. 
Do  you  think  you  can  call  them  back?"  he  asked 
eagerly. 

"I  fear  to  answer  that  question,"  faltered 
Carino.  "I  have  warned  you  that  my  people  fear 
these  woods,  and  are  never  willing  to  go  into  them. ' ' 


212  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DOKADO 

Then  the  Cavaliers  began  very  foolishly  to 
blame  each  other  for  coming  to  such  a  place,  and 
were  soon  in  high  words — as  if  quarreling  would 
help  them  out  of  their  difficulty. 

"If  you  had  not  been  so  greedy  for  gold  you 
would  never  have  undertaken  such  a  journey, " 
said  one  of  them. 

"And  if  you  had  been  willing  to  work  for  an 
honest  living  you  would  not  have  been  so  eager 
to  come  with  me,"  retorted  the  other  angrily. 

Carino  realizing  that  something  must  be  done 
at  once,  interrupted  the  dispute  by  saying: 

"There  is  an  old  Manoan  witch  named  Mon- 
ella,  who  has  lived  at  the  edge  of  this  wood  for 
hundreds  of  years,  and  if  you  will  follow  me  I  will 
conduct  you  to  her  hut.  The  pathway  is  hung  with 
bell-shaped  flowers  of  many  hues,  and  these  give 
a  dim  light  when  the  sun  goes  down.  If  we  make 
haste  we  may  reach  it  before  dark." 

Without  a  word  the  Spaniards  picked  up  what 
things  they  needed  for  the  night,  and  carrying  them 
on  their  backs  in  separate  bundles,  moodily  fol- 
lowed Carino.  None  but  an  Indian  could  have 
found  the  way  through  such  a  tangled  mass  of 
undergrowth.  Suddenly  Carino  stopped  and  called 
out: 

"Beware!  here  is  one  of  the  fierce  lords  of  the 
wood,  mouth  open  and  bent  upon  attack."  Being 
an  agile,  quick  fellow,  he  jumped  to  one  side  barely 
in  time  to  miss  the  venomous  snake  as  it  rushed 
toward  him.  The  warning  made  the  Spaniards 


THE    MOUNTAIN    OF    GOLD  '213 

ready,  and  with  unerring  aim  one  of  them  shot 
the  reptile  through  the  head. 

"  These  are  some  of  the  guardians  of  Bora- 
ima, "  said  Carino,  solemnly.  "They  are  not  only 
poisonous,  but  show  fight,  and  will  not  run  from 
man. ' ' 

By  this  time  the  Spaniards  were  beginning  to 
lose  heart. 

i  i  If  the  Holy  Mother  preserves  me  through  this 
night  I  will  give  up  this  search  for  El  Dorado/7 
said  the  leader,  and  the  other  men  agreed  with  him. 

"The  witch  Monella  has  strange  tales  to  tell 
of  lioraima.  She  has  been  through  the  secret 
cavern  in  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  up  to  the 
top, ' '  said  Carino. 

"Does  she  say  that  there  is  gold  up  there  1" 
queried  one  of  the  Cavaliers.  Before  the  guide 
could  answed,  a  large  yellow  puma  stood  in  the 
pathway,  directly  in  front  of  them.  A  gun  was 
leveled  to  shoot  at  her,  when  Carino  sprang  forward 
and  said: 

"Do  not  harm  the  puma.  She  belongs  to  Mon- 
ella, and  no  red  man  ever  kills  one  of  these  animals. 
They  are  always  our  friends,  and  to  injure  one  is 
to  bring  bad  luck  on  yourself  and  family." 

They  went  forward  eagerly  now  for  the  thought 
of  a  human  habitation  near  by  inspired  them  with 
courage,  and  they  were  soon  rewarded  by  seeing 
a  thin  column  of  smoke  issuing  from  an  opening 
in  the  dense  foliage.  Nearing  the  hut  they  were 
met  by  a  queer  looking  old  Indian  woman,  who 
had  no  teeth,  and  whose  face  was  so  wrinkled  that 


214          THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

she  could  scarcely  see  out  of  her  eyes.     Carino 
approached  her  and  said: 

"We  have  come,  good  mother,  to  ask  shelter 
and  fo6d  for  the  night.  We  are  a  band  of  travelers 
who  are  left  with  no  servants  and  must  make  our 
wav  the  best  we  can." 


'  *  Your  strange  white  masters  come  on  a  useless 
errand, ' '  said  the  old  crone,  blinking  at  them  and 
grinning  in  a  knowing  way.  * l  You  think  to  find  the 
hidden  treasure  of  iloraima  and  to  unearth  its 
buried  secrets,  but  you  will  fail.  No  one  living, 
except  myself,  knows  these  things,  and  I  will  not 
tell  you  more  than  is  good  for  you." 


THE    MOUNTAIN    OF    GOLD  215 

"Do  not  quarrel  with  the  old  hag,"  said  the 
leader  to  Carino,  "we  need  a  place  to  sleep  and 
are  very  hungry,  so  give  her  some  gold  and  tell 
her  we  will  do  as  she  says. ' ' 

"These  are  not  Mellenda's  men,"  said  the 
old  crone  to  Carino,  as  she  eyed  them  suspiciously. 
"But  the  White  Brotherhood  would  despise  me  if 
I  refused  to  shelter  them  from  the  dangers  of  the 
forest  at  night.  They  are  welcome  to  come  and 
sup  with  me." 

When  they  had  all  been  given  something  to  eat, 
and  were  sitting  before  the  fire  of  pine  knots,  one 
of  the  Cavaliers  said : 

"Tell  us,  good  mother,  how  you  have  managed 
to  live  so  long.  Carino  says  you  are  very  old  and 
very  wise." 

"Since  I  was  a  little  child  I  have  drank  a 
tea  made  from  the  Plant  of  Life.  Its  juice  is  bitter- 
sweet, and  unless  one  has  the  Falloa,  or  Don't  Care 
Sickness,  he  can  live  always." 

' '  Where  did  you  get  this  wonderful  plant  ? ' ' 

"It  was  given  me  by  Ulama,  the  beautiful 
daughter  of  Mellenda, "  answered  the  old  woman, 
proudly.  ' '  This  is  like  her  smiling  face, ' '  she  con- 
tinued, going  back  to  a  cupboard  and  getting  a 
curious  old  parchment  roll  from  a  shelf.  As  she 
unwound  the  figure  the  astonished  Spaniards  saw 
a  fair  representation  of  a  yellow-haired  girl  with 
a  circlet  of  gold  set  with  gems  on  her  head.  On 
the  breast  of  her  flowing  robe  there  was  a  golden 
star,  and  around  the  waist  there  was  a  jeweled 
girdle. 


216          THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"Can  you  read  this  picture  writing!"  asked 
one  of  the  Spaniards. 

"It  is  the  language  of  my  forefathers,  and 
as  a  child  I  could  speak  it  well.  Listen,  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  it  says.  Long  years  ago  there  was 
a  rich  and  powerful  white  race  living  in  these  lands, 
and  they  built  a  wonderful  city  on  the  Mountain 
of  Gold.  But  the  Children  of  Darkness  captured 
the  city,  and  they  enticed  people  up  there  so 
they  could  sacrifice  them  to  the  Devil-tree.  There 
is  never  any  thunder  or  lightning  on  top  of  Rori- 
ama,  and  its  crest  is  a  flat  tableland  edged  with 
a  high  forest  and  guarded  by  white  eagles.  The 
mountains  surrounding  it  were  once  islands  in  a 
great  lake,  and  Mellenda  was  the  ancient  king  of 
the  Children  of  Light  who  lived  there.  The  King 
was  a  man  of  peace  and  very  great  wisdom,  and  he 
had  a  wife  and  four  beautiful  children  whom  his 
enemies,  the  Children  of  Darkness,  sacrificed  to 
the  Devil-tree  while  he  was  away  in  a  distant  part 
of  the  kingdom.  He  had  a  great  fleet  and  could 
have  punished  the  Children  of  Darkness." 

The  old  crone  ceased  speaking,  and  seemed 
lost  in  deep  study.  Finally  Carino  roused  her  by 
asking : 

"Did  Mellenda  do  nothing  for  revenge!" 

"  No ;  he  went  away,  but  he  promised  he  would 
come  back  again,  and  he  will.  Not  long  after  his 
departure  came  the  great  sinking  of  the  waters, 
and  the  lake  of  Parima  has  disappeared  into 
another  region  of  our  country.  For  centuries  after 


THE    MOUNTAIN    OF    GOLD  217 

this  the  surrounding  land  was  but  a  chaos  of  swamp 
and  mud.  By  degrees  vegetation  grew  up,  and  in 
time  the  trees  became  the  thick  tangled  forest  that 
cannot  now  be  penetrated." 

"Did  this  Mellenda  take  with  him  all  the  gold 
and  silver  ? ' '  asked  a  Cavalier,  intent  upon  finding 
something  worth  carrying  away. 

"In  the  city  on  top  of  the  mountain  is  kept  a 
full  suit  of  his  gold  armor,  bright  and  ready,  wait- 
ing to  receive  him." 

"We  will  get  it  and  take  it  home  with  us," 
said  the  Spaniards,  now  all  eagerness. 

"We,  of  Mellenda 's  race,  firmly  believe  that 
he  will  come  again,  and  none  of  us  would  dare 
touch  any  of  his  belongings,"  said  the  crone, 
earnestly. 

"You  need  not  touch  it,"  began  one  of  the 
Cavaliers.  "We  will  bring  it  down  the  trail  our- 
selves. ' ' 

"There  is  no  trail  up  the  sides  of  Roraima. 
The  entrance  to  its  hidden  passageway  is  guarded 
by  a  giant  Devil-tree. ' ' 

'  *  Did  you  ever  see  this  Devil-tree  ? ' '  asked  her 
visitors. 

'  *  Yes ;  a  few  years  ago,  I  took  my  two  pumas 
and  went  to  the  cave  for  a  certain  purpose.  As  we 
stood  looking  at  the  monstrous  thing  one  of  its 
long,  horny  branches  crept  toward  us,  and  one 
of  the  pumas  sprang  forward  to  bite  it.  Instantly 
it  curled  around  the  body  of  the  poor  creature, 
dragging  it  until  they  came  to  the  trunk  of  the 


218  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

tree.  Here  shorter  and  thicker  limbs  knotted 
together  over  the  struggling  puma,  and  finally  all 
rose  in  the  air  and  almost  disappeared  in  the 
hollow  trunk." 

"Did  you  make  no  effort  to  rescue  your  pet  I ' ' 

"I  hacked  the  first  branch  with  an  axe  until  it 
bled  a  dark,  crimson  liquid  that  smelled  so  badly 
I  was  deathly  sick.  Every  inch  of  the  bark 
is  covered  with  small  mouths  that  pierce  the  flesh 
and  suck  the  blood  of  its  victims.  I  kept  watch 
until  the  moon  came  out,  and  then  the  knots  of  limbs 
unrolled  and  out  fell  something.  Each  branch 
tossed  it  before  it  reached  the  ground,  when  I  saw 
it  was  the  crushed  and  lifeless  puma.  Out  of  a 
slimy  pool  near  by  rushed  huge  alligators,  and  in 
a  few  minutes  they  were  eating  what  the  Devil-tree 
left  of  the  puma." 

"Let  us  go  away  from  here/'  said  the  Span- 
iards among  themselves.  "Instead  of  being  an 
earthly  paradise,  this  is  an  infernal  region." 

When  they  were  bidding  the  old  crone  good- 
bye the  next  morning,  she  looked  at  them  sharply 
and  said: 

"You  came  here  searching  for  gold,  and 
expected  to  find  it  ready  for  your  use.  My  friends, 
the  great  blessings  of  life  must  be  worked  for  and 
earned.  You  cannot  cheat  your  way  into  Heaven, 
nor  will  you  or  your  people  ever  find  any  more 
hidden  treasures  belonging  to  other  races.  You 
will  earn  all  the  fortunes  you  get  after  this 
adventure. ' ' 


The  Amazon  Queens 

should  all  get  very  tired  I  am 
sure  if  we  tried  to  follow  the 
Spaniards  into  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  New  World  where  they 
went  in  search  of  El  Dorado,  but  we  are 
interested  in  knowing  that  the  name 
Costa  Rica  means  the  rich  coast,  because 
it  was  one  of  the  El  Dorado  regions,  and  in 
Panama,  the  little  narrow  strip  of  land  which 
unites  North  and  South  America,  they  expected 
to  find  a  Castle  of  Gold,  while  the  Island  of 
Porto  Rico  is  also  one  of  the  homes  of  El 
Dorado.  It  made  no  difference  to  the  Spaniards 
whether  the  natives  in  these  places  had 
heard  of  the  Golden  Hearted  or  not.  They  only 
wanted  to  find  the  riches  of  the  country,  and  would 
not  have  listened  to  any  teaching  other  than 
that  brought  by  the  padres.  So  for  years  and 
years  they  kept  on  making  mistakes  and  under- 
going the  most  terrible  hardships  trying  to  acquire 
sudden  wealth. 


220  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

One  of  the  stories  that  is  very  queer  was  that 
about  the  Amazon  Queens.  Columbus  wrote  of 
them,  and  this  is  what  he  said: 

"On  the  first  island  discovered  on  the  voyage 
from  Spain  to  the  Indies,  no  men  are  allowed  to 
live.  The  female  warriors  do  not  follow  any 
womanly  occupations,  but  use  bows  and  arrows  of 
cane,  and  cover  as  well  as  arm  themselves  with 
brazen  plates,  of  which  they  have  many." 

He  says  nothing  of  their  having  great  wealth, 
but  Cortez  also  heard  of  them,  and  wrote  to  the 
King  of  Spain  that  the  island  was  ten  days  dis- 
tance from  a  province  in  Mexico,  and  that  many 
persons  had  gone  there  and  seen  the  women  war- 
riors. He  concludes  his  letter  by  saying: 

1  i  I  am  told  that  these  fighting  women  are  rich 
in  pearls  and  gold." 

This  news  was  quite  enough  to  start  the  Span- 
iards on  a  search  for  the  island,  and,  as  usual,  the 
Indians  gave  them  much  contradictory  informa- 
tion about  its  location.  Some  said  it  was  north 
and  some  said  it  was  south,  so  exploring  parties 
were  sent  in  both  directions.  A  man  by  the  name 
of  Guzman  came  up  into  Mexico  as  far  north  as 
Sinaloa,  looking  for  this  wonderful  island,  and  his 
march  was  one  of  devastation  and  murder.  He  not 
only  compelled  the  Indians  to  accompany  him  as 
slaves  to  do  all  the  drudgery,  but  tortured  such 
chiefs  as  he  thought  had  gold,  and  in  many  cases 
killed  them  because  they  either  did  not  give  it  to 
him  quickly  enough,  or  in  as  large  quantities  as 


THE    AMAZON    QUEENS  221 

he  wanted.  The  farther  north  he  went  the  poorer 
the  natives  were. 

Instead  of  a  rich  island  inhabited  by  soldierly 
women,"  he  exclaimed,  in  disgust,  "I  find  a  few 
insignificant  villages  occupied  by  women  and 
children,  because  the  men  have  all  fled  to  the  moun- 
tains. In  the  whole  country  there  is  not  a  trace  of 
gold,  pearls  or  treasures  of  any  kind." 

Along  the  way  he  found  very  scant  supplies 
of  gold,  and  this  made  him  furious,  for  he  returned 
to  the  city  of  Mexico  poorer  than  when  he  left  it. 

Pizarro  and  his  followers  in  Peru  heard  of  the 
Amazon  Queens,  and  so  did  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
and  the  German  adventurers,  but  their  country 
was  said  to  be  along  the  banks  of  a  very  wide  river 
in  South  America.  The  Indians  called  them  the 
Great  Ladies,  and  the  river  has  since  been  named 
the  Amazon  in  their  honor. 

1 '  If  the  Great  Ladies  do  not  invite  you  to  visit 
them,  it  is  a  very  dangerous  thing  to  attempt," 
said  the  Indian  guides  to  Orellanna,  the  man  who 
discovered  the  Amazon  river,  and  was  the  first  to 
sajl  its  entire  length. 

"Why  do  you  say  that!"  asked  Orellana. 

"Because  they  are  tall,  strong-limbed  and  fair, 
and  are  great  fighters.  They  wind  their  long  hair 
across  their  foreheads  in  thick  bands,  and  defend 
themselves  well." 

"What  kind  of  weapons  do  they  use?"  queried 
the  Spanish  soldiers,  when  they  could  stop  laugh- 
ing at  the  Indians  for  being  afraid  of  a  lot  of 
women. 


222  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"They  shoot  with  blow-pipes,  bows  and 
arrows,  and  have  a  war-club  that  they  wield  with 
great  vigor,"  answered  the  Indians,  with  serious 
faces. 

"Are  they  always  so  hostile  to  men!" 

"Only  the  grandfathers  of  this  generation 
have  seen  them,  and  none  save  the  Kings  of  the 
Borderers  ever  venture  near  their  habitation." 

' '  How  are  the  Kings  of  the  Borderers  received 
by  these  strange  women!" 

"They  meet  them  at  the  frontier  of  their 
possessions  with  bows  and  arrows  in  their  hands, 
but  after  an  exchange  of  pledges  the  Great  Ladies 
invite  the  men  to  come  and  feast  and  dance  with 
them.  Sometimes  they  stay  a  month,  and  then  the 
Queens  escort  them  to  the  edge  of  their  land,  and 
send  them  home  loaded  with  presents." 

"What  kind  of  presents  do  they  give!"  asked 
the  Spaniards,  suddenly  taking  a  great  interest  in 
what  was  being  said. 

"There  are  gold  ornaments  in  plenty,  and 
emeralds  and  pearls,  besides  the  grains  of  gold 
carried  in  eagle  quills. ' ' 

"We  will  capture  these  Great  Ladies,"  inter- 
rupted the  Spaniards,  excitedly.  "We  will  teach 
them  their  proper  places  when  we  get  hold  of  them. 
Why  do  you  Indians  allow  them  to  live  in  such  a 
er?" 

Our  forefathers  have  taught  us  to  hold  them 
in  great  veneration,  because  they  live  in  a  Mansion 
of  the  Sun.  Long  years  ago  they  were  Virgins  of 


THE    AMAZON    QUEENS  223 

the  Sun,  but  in  the  wars  between  the  different 
tribes  they  were  allowed  to  separate  from  the  rest 
and  live  in  a  community  by  themselves. ' ' 

"Do  they  build  houses?" 

' i  They  have  temples,  and  keep  the  sacred  fires 
burning  on  the  altars,  as  was  done  in  olden  times. ' ' 

"Who  rules  them,  and  what  do  they  do  with 
their  boy  babies?" 

"They  select  their  own  queen,  and  the  boy  bab- 
ies are  given  to  the  Kings  of  the  Borderers ;  they 
only  keep  girl  babies  in  their  tribe,  and  when  they 
grow  up  they  become  either  warriors  or  priestesses. 

"How  do  they  support  themselves?" 

"By  hunting,  fishing,  weaving  cloth  and 
trading  with  their  neighbors." 

"Where  do  they  get  their  riches!" 

"From  the  mountains  of  Parima,  where  they 
have  secret  storehouses  filled  with  treasures  they 
have  been  hoarding  for  ages." 

This  pleased  the  Spaniards  very  much,  and 
quite  decided  them  to  make  a  raid  upon  that 
country.  Even  after  they  had  talked  the  matter 
over  fully  among  themselves  they  recalled  the 
Indians  and  questioned  them  still  further. 

"Would  you  be  afraid  to  undertake  to  fight 
these  strange  women ? ' '  they  asked,  when  they  saw 
that  the  guides  were  unwilling  to  accompany  them. 

"No,  we  are  not  afraid,  but  we  are  enjoined 
to  let  them  alone.  None  of  us  would  ever  think  of 
disturbing  them.  They  are  very  fierce,  and  will 
kill  any  man  that  they  do  not  like." 


A     FLOWER     OFFERING 


THE    AMAZON    QUEENS  225 

"But  you  could  easily  conquer  women  war- 
riors," urged  the  Spaniards,  now  eager  to  com- 
mence the  journey. 

i 'It  would  not  be  so  easily  done  as  you  imag- 
ine," said  the  guides,  shaking  their  heads  doubt- 
fully. "The  Great  Ladies  wear  thick  shields  and 
cover  their  clothes  with  metal  discs  which  turn 
away  an  arrow  point." 

"We  can  easily  overcome  that  protection  with 
our  guns,  and  we  are  not  commanded  to  respect 
them,"  replied  the  Spaniards. 

"You  will  lind  that  they  have  deep  under- 
ground retreats  to  which  they  fly  in  times  of 
danger,  and  they  are  known  to  be  excellent  shots." 

Just  then  a  party  of  prospectors  returned 
from  the  mountains  where  they  had  been  looking 
for  gold.  Among  the  things  they  brought  was  a 
number  of  thin,  flat  green  stones  with  holes  pierced 
in  each  end,  showing  that  they  had  been  used  for 
ornaments.  The  Indian  guides  said  at  once  they 
were  the  same  kind  of  emerald  as  that  worn  by  the 
Amazon  Queens  for  an  amulet  against  disease. 

"How  did  you  succeed  in  getting  them  ?"  they 
asked. 

"From  some  Indian  pedlars  we  met  with 
packs  on  their  backs.  They  said  the  stones  would 
cure  the  spleen,  and  we  have  been  wearing  them 
ever  since." 

"Did  you  have  any  difficulty  in  persuading 
the  pedlars  to  part  with  them?" 

"  No ;  they  said  they  got  them  from  a  tribe  of 


226  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

women  warriors  many  leagues  to  the  south,  but  we 
did  not  believe  them." 

"It  is  all  true/'  said  the  guides,  "and  these 
Great  Ladies  have  been  in  that  land  a  very  long 
time. ' ' 

"If  we  can  find  enough  of  these  spleen  stones 
to  make  our  trip  profitable  we  do  not  care  whether 
we  meet  the  Great  Ladies  or  not,"  said  the  pros- 
pectors, when  told  of  the  proposed  trip  in  search 
of  the  Amazon  Queens. 

As  the  party  pushed  forward  into  the  tangled 
thickets,  they  found  cocoanuts,  and  plantains,  ripe 
and  ready  to  eat,  and  they  also  found  some  very 
juicy  little  canteloupes  growing  on  a  vine,  but 
none  of  the  Indians  living  on,  or  near  the  Amazon 
river,  could  tell  them  where  to  find  the  Queens. 
They  searched  up  and  down  the  banks  for  a  hidden 
passageway  which  was  said  to  guard  the  entrance 
to  their  mountain  home,  but  to  all  questions  the 
river  made  no  answer.  To  the  disappointed  Span- 
iards it  looked  angry,  sullen  and  relentless  in  the 
untamed  might  of  its  turbid  waters. 

"It  seems  to  be  always  summer  here,"  said 
the  weary  soldiers,  "but  one  would  die  of  malarial 
poisoning  if  compelled  to  stay  long." 

Some  of  the  guides  felt  sorry  for  the  sick  men, 
and  went  into  the  woods  and  brought  them  sarsapa- 
rilla  bark,  and  made  them  a  tea  of  it. 

"Drink  this,"  they  said,  "because  it  will  cure 
your  sickness  which  comes  from  the  head.  If 
your  heart  was  strong  with  love  for  your  brothers 


THE    AMAZON    QUEENS 


227 


you  would  find  blessings  in  this  land.  As  it  is 
you  seek  to  plunder  and  rob  the  Great  Ladies,  but 
the  Sun  is  their  father,  and  he  will  make  the 
mountains,  trees  and  rocks  hide  them  and  their 
treasures." 

"It  is  no  use  to  look  for  these  women  any 
longer.  We  shall  all  die  before  we  can  reach 
them,"  said  the  leader,  wearily. 

And  no  one  to  this  day  knows  just  where  the 
Amazon  Queens  lived. 


The  Seven  Cities  of  Cibola 

Nahuas  in  Mexico  were  really  a 
sect  of  wise  men  descended  from 
those  that  came  with  the  Golden 
Hearted.  They  believed  that  they  originated  in 
Seven  Caves,  which  were  not  locations  at  all, 
but  was  only  a  way  of  saying  that  human 
beings  have  seven  wonderful  qualities.  They 
might  have  thought  so  because  we  can  see, 
feel,  taste,  hear  and  smell,  and  have  instinct 
and  are  able  to  reason,  or  it  may  have  been 
something  else.  At  any  rate,  it  did  not  mean  actual 
caves,  but  was  a  symbol.  In  later  times  when 
people  were  not  so  wise,  they  said  it  was  seven 
tribes  instead  of  caves,  and  when  the  Spaniards 
heard  about  it  they  managed  to  twist  it  into  seven 
cities,  and  immediately  conceived  the  idea  that 
great  riches  and  gold  could  be  found  in  them. 
When  questioned  on  the  subject  the  Indians  said: 


THE    SEVEN    CITIES    OE    CIBOLA         229 

"To  the  far  north  there  are  seven  wonderful 
cities  where  the  people  make  arrow-heads  of  emer- 
alds and  take  the  sweat  off  their  bodies  with 
scrapers  of  pure  gold,  and  have  jeweled  gates,  and 
turquoise  ornaments  over  their  doors." 

"Do  these  men  know  how  to  work  precious 
stones  and  metals?"  asked  the  Spaniards  eagerly. 

"There  are  long  streets  filled  with  jewelers 
who  maks  rings  for  the  ears,  nose  and  arms,"  they 
said.  "Forty  days  must  you  journey  to  reach  this 
land,  and  you  must  travel  through  a  desert  where 
there  is  neither  water  nor  food  to  be  had." 

The  first  Spaniard  to  attempt  the  search  for 
the  Seven  Cities  was  the  cruel  Guzman,  who  looked 
north  for  the  Amazons.  He  had  with  him  quite  an 
army,  and  his  men  were  so  excited  over  the  stories 
they  heard  that  they  scarcely  took  time  to  eat  or 
sleep  on  the  way.  They  hoped  every  day  to  find 
the  cities,  but  instead  of  this  the  country  grew  more 
desolate,  the  road  more  difficult,  and  the  cities  still 
farther  to  the  north.  Then  the  Spaniards  began 
to  complain,  and  said : 

"We  have  been  deceived,  and  shall  all  die  in 
this  bleak  land.  Let  us  return  to  Mexico."  And 
they  did.  For  six  years  no  one  had  the  courage  to 
seek  the  Seven  Cities. 

Then  something  very  strange  happened. 

Into  a  little  seaport  where  Cortez  had  ordered 
some  ships  built  to  explore  the  western  coast,  came 
wandering  four  strange  men.  They  were  bare- 
footed, and  had  no  clothing  except  some  old,  dirty 


230  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

skins  with  the  hair  worn  off  in  spots.  Their  heads 
were  a  perfect  mass  of  tangles,  and  their  beards 
reached  almost  to  the  knees.  Falling  flat  on  their 
faces  before  the  first  white  man  they  saw,  they  cried 
out  in  a  loud  voice : 

"Thank  God!  We  are  safe  at  last!"  When 
the  astonished  Spaniard  turned  to  look  at  them, 
they  seized  his  hands  and  kissed  them,  and  spring- 
ing to  their  feet  danced  and  shouted  for  joy. 

*  *  These  are  escaped  maniacs, ' '  said  the  people, 
gathering  around  to  look  at  them.  "Whatever 
shall  we  do  with  mad  men?" 

"No,  no!  You  do  not  understand.  We  are 
poor  wanderers  who  have  been  lost  for  years  among 
the  Indians." 

"Let  us  take  them  to  our  Captain.  There  is 
something  very  strange  about  this,"  said  the 
Spaniards,  and  they  started  at  once. 

"Wlio  are  you!"  asked  the  Captain,  rudely, 
looking  with  disgust  at  their  dirt  and  rags. 

"I  am  a  noble  of  Castile  who  came  to  help 
conquer  Florida,  and  my  name  is  De  Vaca,"  said 
the  oldest  man.  "The  fleet  was  wrecked  and  all 
were  lost  except  my  companions  here,  and  me. 
All  the  years  since  we  have  been  with  the  Indians." 

"I  do  not  believe  a  word  of  it,"  said  the 
Captain.  "Put  these  fellows  in  prison  until  we 
find  out  about  them.  They  may  be  criminals. ' ' 

For  three  months  they  lay  in  prison,  and  then 
the  Alcalde  came  and  released  them. 

"Tell  me  your  story,"  he  said. 


THE    SEVEN    CITIES    OF    CIBOLA         231 

i i When  the  ships  were  lost,"  responded  De 
Vaca,  "we  swam  to  the  mainland,  and  were  cap- 
tured by  the  Indians.  They  were  a  poor,  starved 
tribe  who  lived  on  roots  and  berries,  and  often 
went  days  without  a  mouthful.  We  had  with  us 
a  rattle,  and  this,  with  our  beards,  made  them 
think  we  came  from  Heaven,  and  were  great  medi- 
cine men.  They  fell  on  their  faces  before  us  and 
gave  us  all  they  had.  We  asked  them  to  take 
us  where  the  sun  sets,  but  they  refused,  and  we 
pretended  to  be  very  angry,  until  they  finally  let 
us  go.  After  months  of  wandering  we  came  to 
a  land  of  plenty,  where  the  people  were  wealthy, 
and  wore  beautiful  plumes  in  their  head-dresses. 
They  brought  us  five  emeralds  cut  into  arrow- 
heads, and  many  fine  turquoises,  and  beads  made 
of  coral.  When  I  asked  where  they  got  these 
stones,  they  pointed  to  some  lofty  mountains 
toward  the  north  and  told  us  the  gems  came  from 
there,  and  that  near  them  were  large  cities,  with 
houses  three  or  four  stories  high.  I  did  not  go 
there  because  I  heard  that  toward  the  sunset  were 
other  men  of  my  kind,  and  I  longed  once  more  to 
look  upon  the  face  of  a  Spaniard. " 

"Of  course,"  said  the  people,  as  they  talked 
the  matter  over,  * '  these  are  the  same  cities  Guzman 
tried  to  find.  He  did  not  go  in  the  right  direc- 
tion, but  we  know  where  they  are, ' '  and  many  were 
eager  to  set  out  at  once.  But  the  Viceroy  was  a 
quiet  and  careful  man. 

"There  have  been  many  lives  lost  already," 


232  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

he  said,  "and  it  will  be  best  not  to  hurry.  I  shall 
not  send  an  army  there  until  I  am  sure. ' ' 

Then  he  thought  of  a  padre,  named  Fray 
Marcos,  who  had  lived  much  among  the  Indians  of 
the  north,  and  he  sent  for  him,  and  said: 

"Perhaps  there  lies  to  the  north  as  rich  a 
nation  as  Mexico  or  Peru.  If  so  it  must  be  con- 
quered for  the  Church  and  the  King  of  Spain. 
You  know  how  to  speak  to  the  Indians,  and  it 
might  be  that  they  would  let  you  come  among  them 
and  learn  the  truth.  Will  you  undertake  to  do  so  ? " 

"God  giving  me  strength  I  will,"  said  Fray 
Marcos,  with  enthusiasm. 

"Very  well.  The  negro  Stephen,  who  was 
with  De  Vaca  is  here,  and  is  willing  to  be  your 
guide.  If  you  come  to  any  great  city  do  not  send 
back  word,  but  return  yourself  and  tell  me  about 
it.  Make  all  your  plans  and  set  out  as  soon  as 
possible." 

Fray  Marcos  did  as  he  was  told,  but  it  was 
several  months  before  anything  was  heard  of  him. 
One  day  a  traveler,  in  a  monk's  gown,  came  walk- 
ing into  the  same  seaport  that  De  Vaca  had  visited. 

"It  is  Fray  Marcos,  who  went  in  search  of 
the  Seven  Cities!  Did  you  find  them!  Are  they 
full  of  wealth?  Where  is  the  negro  Stephen?" 

Fray  Marcos  would  not  answer  their  questions. 

"I  have  much  to  tell,  but  my  news  is  for  the 
Viceroy  himself,"  said  the  padre,  and  he  started 
for  the  city  of  Mexico.  When  there  he  said  to  the 
Viceroy : 


THE    SEVEN    CITIES    OF    CIBOLA         '233 

"The  Indians  came  out  to  meet  and  welcome 
me  everywhere.  They  had  food  ready  for  me, 
and  where  there  were  no  houses,  they  built  bowers 
of  trees  and  flowers  that  I  might  rest  safe  from  the 
sun.  I  spent  four  days  journeying  through  a 
desert,  and  then  I  found  some  Indians  who  mar- 
veled much  to  see  me.  They  thought,  because  I 
was  white  and  wore  a  gown,  that  I  must  have  come 
from  Heaven.  I  asked  them  if  they  knew  of  any 
great  kingdom  where  there  were  seven  large  cities, 
and  they  told  me  that  farther  on  were  high  moun- 
tains with  wide  plains  at  the  foot  where  the  people 
lived  in  cities  and  clothed  themselves  in  cotton. 
I  sent  Stephen  ahead  three-score  leagues,  and 
charged  him  to  send  back  Indians  to  bring  me 
news  of  his  success.  If  the  country  was  poor  and 
mean,  he  was  to  send  me  a  cross  no  longer  than  my 
hand;  if  it  were  a  goodly  place  the  cross  was  to 
be  two  lengths  of  a  hand,  and  if  he  found  what  he 
sought  he  was  to  send  me  a  large  cross.  In  four 
days  a  messenger  came  from  Stephen  bearing  a 
cross  as  high  as  a  man.  He  brought  news  of  a 
mighty  province  called  Cibola,  thirty  days  journey 
northward  from  the  town  where  Stephen  was.  In 
this  province  there  are  seven  great  cities  governed 
by  one  Prince." 

"You  should  have  followed  at  once  to  make 
sure  that  all  these  things  were  true,"  said  the 
Viceroy,  now  very  much  interested. 

i  i  I  did, ' '  responded  Fray  Marcos.  i  '  Each  day 
messengers  came  to  me  carrying  large  crosses  and 


234  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

giving  more  particulars  concerning  Cibola. 
Finally  I  entered  a  valley  where  there  were  many 
people,  and  all  of  them  had  turquoises  hanging 
from  their  noses,  and  ears,  and  collars  of  the  same 
three  or  four  times  double  around  their  necks. 
Then  I  had  to  go  through  another  desert,  and  was 
beginning  to  get  very  tired  when  one  day  there 
came  running  to  me,  an  Indian  in  great  fright— 
his  body  covered  with  sweat  and  dust,  and  his  face 
showing  extreme  sadness.  He  said  that  the  day 
before  Stephen  had  reached  Cibola,  and  had  sent 
guides  into  the  city  with  presents  for  the  chief, 
and  to  let  them  know  he  came  in  peace.  But  the 
great  Lord  of  the  City  flew  into  a  rage  and  dashed 
the  presents  to  the  ground.  He  drove  the  mes- 
sengers out  in  fury,  and  said  he  would  kill  them 
if  they  came  back  again.  He  said,  too,  that  he 
would  kill  Stephen.  But  the  negro  was  not  afraid, 
and  went  directly  into  the  city.  Instantly  they 
were  seized  and  cast  into  a  prison,  where  they  were 
kept  all  night  without  anything  to  eat  or  drink. 
The  next  morning  Stephen  and  his  guides  tried  to 
escape,  but  the  people  killed  all  of  them  except  one 
other  and  the  messenger  who  came  to  me.  These 
two  were  struck  down  and  left  for  dead,  but  were 
only  stunned,  and  when  the  angry  people  went 
away  they  crept  out  in  the  night,  and  made  their 
escape. ' ' 

"What  did  you  do  then,  Fray  Marcos?"  asked 
the  Viceroy. 

"So  great  was  my  grief  that  it  seemed  for  a 


236  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

moment  as  if  I  should  die,  but  when  my  guides 
began  to  weep  and  lament  I  gave  them  the  presents 
T  intended  for  the  Lord  of  Cibola,  and  resolved 
to  go  and  see  the  city,  even  if  I  could  not  enter 
it.  I  traveled  one  day  and  came  to  a  round  hill, 
which  1  climbed.  Looking  down  I  saw  the  beauti- 
ful city  of  Cibola." 

i '  And  the  houses,  were  they  as  the  Indians  told 
you?" 

"Yes,  my  lord;  they  were  built  of  stone  four 
stories  high,  and  glistened  in  the  bright  sunshine. 
The  people  were  fair  and  dressed  in  white.  Greatly 
was  I  tempted  to  risk  my  life  and  go  down  to  them, 
but  I  contented  myself  with  planting  a  cross  and 
hurrying  here  to  tell  you  what  I  had  done." 

"That  was  right,  Fray  Marcos,"  said  the 
Viceroy, ' l  and  now  it  is  time  to  send  an  army. ' ' 

The  first  person  the  Viceroy  thought  of  to 
lead  the  soldiers  was  a  brave  nobleman,  named 
Ooronado,  who  sat  by  his  side.  He  had  been  listen- 
ing eagerly  to  all  that  Fray  Marcos  had  to  tell. 
Turning  to  him  the  Viceroy  said: 

"It  is  my  wish  that  you  should  command  my 
forces  and  conquer  this  Kingdom  of  Cibola.  I 
desire  you  to  make  ready  at  once." 

"Fray  Marcos  simply  confirms  what  Guzman 
and  De  Vaca  have  already  told  us,"  replied  Coro- 
nado,  "and  I  accept  your  commission  with  one 
proviso. ' ' 

"And  what  may  that  be?"  asked  the  Viceroy, 
with  a  smile. 


THE    SEVEN    CITIES    OF    CIBOLA         237 

1  '  That  you  allow  me  to  bear  the  expenses  of  the 
entire  expedition." 

''Very  well,  and  when  you  find  Cibola  I  will 
make  you  its  governor  and  give  you  all  the 
treasures  you  find  except  what  justly  belongs  to 
the  King  of  Spain,  and  his  representatives  and 
soldiers  taking  part  in  the  enterprise." 

So  great  was  the  excitement  over  Fray  Marcos ' 
story  of  the  new  El  Dorado,  that  Coronado  scarcely 
knew  what  to  do  with  the  volunteers  of  all  classes 
who  came  flocking  into  camp  determined  to  go 
with  him.  He  not  only  spent  all  his  own  money, 
but  borrowed  all  he  could  get  and  provided  for 
every  one  in  splendid  style.  They  marched  out  in 
glittering  armor,  -on  prancing  horses  with  lances 
gleaming  in  the  sunshine  and  banners  flying  gayly. 
They  were  all  in  high  spirits  because  they  expected 
to  return  in  a  short  time  loaded  with  gold  and 
jewels. 

But  it  was  very  different  when  they  reached 
the  desert  and  mountains,  for  they  did  not  know 
how  to  bear  the  fatigue  of  such  a  journey,  nor  how 
to  care  for  their  horses,  cattle  and  sheep.  The 
animals  died  rapidly,  and  the  soldiers  got  into 
many  fights  with  the  Indians  who  resented  being 
robbed  and  badly  treated.  On  they  went  through 
what  we  now  call  Arizona,  over  almost  the  same 
road  that  Fray  Marcos  had  traveled,  and  found, 
instead  of  the  fine,  glittering  city  they  expected, 
only  a  few  houses  of  one  of  the  Zuni  Indian 
villages. 


238  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

The  hearts  of  the  Spaniards  sunk  as  they  gazed 
upon  it.  Calling  some  of  the  men,  Coronado  said : 

"Go  in  to  the  people  of  the  city,  and  say 
that  we  come  to  defend  and  join  with  them  in 
friendship. ' ' 

They  went  and  delivered  Coronado 's  greeting, 
but  were  received  with  scorn. 

"We  did  riot  ask  you  to  come,  and  your  chief 
had  no  right  to  send  you.  This  is  our  land,  and  we 
can  defend  it.  If  you  attempt  to  stay  here  we  will 
kill  every  one  of  you. "  Even  as  the  soldiers, 
carrying  the  message,  turned  to  go  away  the  people 
of  Cibola  began  firing  arrows  at  them.  Coronado 
quickly  gave  the  command  to  attack,  which  the 
Indians  answered  by  a  shower  of  arrows  and  stones 
which  they  sent  down  from  their  high-walled 
houses.  They  seemed  bent  upon  killing  Coronado ; 
twice  they  felled  him  to  the  ground,  but  he  recov- 
ered and  led  the  charge  with  an  arrow  sticking 
through  his  foot. 

"Santiago!  and  at  them!"  he  shouted,  as  he 
rode  forward  in  the  last  assault. 

"Santiago,"  echoed  his  soldiers,  close  at  his 
heels.  When  the  Indians  saw  the  horses  coming 
at  full  speed  into  their  village,  they  threw  down 
their  bows  and  arrows,  and  fled  in  every  direction. 

Then  the  Spaniards  almost  cried  with  anger 
and  disappointment.  The  houses  were  really  made 
of  stone,  but  there  were  no  jewels,  no  gold,  no 
treasures  of  any  kind— nothing,  in  fact,  but  a  poor, 
miserable  Indian  pueblo,  or  village,  built  upon  a 


THE    SEVEN    CITIES    OF    CIBOLA         239 

high  ledge  of  rocks,  miles  away  from  the  fields  of 
corn,  beans  and  squashes,  upon  which  they  lived. 
All  the  Indians  in  that  part  of  the  United  States 
built  their  houses  in  pueblos,  or  villages,  but  not 
one  of  them  had  any  treasures.  They  irrigated  the 
dry,  sandy  soil  and  tilled  their  fields,  and  were  a 
simple,  kindly  people,  until  the  greedy  Spanish 
soldiers  drove  them  into  rebellion  which  has  left 
their  country  bare  and  desolate,  even  to  this  day. 


•FRAY     MARCOS" 


The  Kingdom  of  Quivera 

HE  air  was  full  of  the  chill  and 
blast  of  winter,  and  with  the  first 
snow-flakes  great  discontent  broke 
out  in  camp,  and  Coronado  real- 
ized that  he  must  find  a  place  to 
make  his  men  more  comfortable. 

"  There  are  ten  big  community  houses  on  top 
of  that  spider-shaped  rock,"  he  said,  one  morning 
to  a  squad  of  soldiers  who  had  been  drilling  on 
parade  ground,  "and  I  want  possession  of  it  for 
the  troops.  Some  one  must  go  ahead  first  and 
report  the  situation." 

''The  rock  is  so  high  that  our  bullets  scarcely 
reach  to  the  top, ' '  said  the  scout,  who  had  galloped 
over  to  the  pueblo  to  spy  out  a  way  of  doing  what 
Coronado  commanded.  "But  there  are  four  wind- 
ing paths  leading  up  the  sides,  and  we  can  ascend 
in  single  file." 

"Have  you  tried  it!"  asked  Coronado. 


THE    KINGDOM    OF    QUIVEEA  241 

' '  Yes,  and  found  it  quite  an  easy  task.  I  spent 
last  night  there,  and  as  the  rays  of  the  sun  took 
leave  of  the  lofty  Sierras,  I  felt  forsaken,  and  as 
if  I  were  about  to  float  away  into  the  darkness." 

"Did  the  Indians  suspect  your  purpose  in 
coming  ? ' ' 

"Certainly  not,  and  all  my  gloomy  feelings 
passed  away  as  soon  as  the  fires  began  to  blaze  on 
the  roofs  at  different  heights  of  the  same  building. 
Inside  the  houses  laughing  voices  greeted  me,  and 
I  was  glad  to  be  the  guest  of  such  simple  people." 

"Do  you  think  we  would  be  safe  from  attacks 
and  surprises  at  night!" 

"Perfectly.  And  when  once  up  there  it  would 
be  almost  impossible  to  come  down  at  night.  The 
narrow  paths  are  really  unsafe  except  in  daylight." 

It  was  not  long  until  the  Spaniards  had  for- 
cible possession  of  the  village,  and  during  the  long, 
dreary  winter  months  they  went  about  in  rusty  hel- 
mets, battered  cuirasses,  ragged  doublets  and  worn- 
out  boots,  while  the  Indians  wrapped  themselves 
in  thick  coverings  made  of  rabbit  skins.  Every 
morning  the  bell  called  them  to  mass,  and  then  the 
criers  went  up  and  down  announcing  the  day's  duty 
to  every  one  in  the  camp.  On  the  plains  below  was 
heard  the  neighing  of  horses,  the  lowing  of  cattle 
and  the  bleating  of  sheep. 

In  the  pueblos  near  by  the  Indians  danced, 
and  gathered  around  the  fires  to  listen  to  the  old 
men's  stories  of  their  past,  and  as  the  winter  drew 
to  a  close  the  Spaniards  were  no  longer  homesick 


242  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

and  despondent,  but  ready  and  willing  to  test  the 
truth  of  some  of  the  things  the  Indians  had  told 
them  of  the  Wrathy  Chieftain  and  the  Kingdom  of 
Quivera. 

At  Pecos  the  scouts  were  received  with  music 
and  presents  of  cotton  cloth  and  handfuls  of  tur- 
quoises, because  the  inhabitants  were  not  sure  but 
that  the  white  men  came  from  the  sun,  and  were 
sent  by  the  Golden  Hearted,  whom  they  revered 
and  honored  as  the  Wrathy  Chieftain. 

In  this  village  they  met  a  strange-looking 
Indian. 

We  will  name  this  fellow  the  "Turk, "  because 
he  looks  so  like  one,  and  find  out,  if  we  can,  where 
he  lives.  "May  be  his  people  have  gold,"  said 
the  soldiers,  as  soon  as  they  arrived  at  Pecos. 

"My  home  is  very  far  to  the  east,"  said  the 
Turk,  when  questioned,  "and  we  have  plenty  of 
gold." 

"What  is  the  name  of  your  country!" 

"Quivera,  and  my  king's  name  is  Tatarax. 
He  wears  a  long  beard,  and  worships  a  golden  cross 
and  an  image  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven." 

Had  the  Spaniards  been  at  all  cautious  and 
shrewd  they  would  have  taken  pains  to  find  out 
how  true  this  statement  was,  but  they  were  so 
tired  of  being  in  camp,  that  they  were  glad  of  an 
opportunity  to  go  on  another  expedition  in  search 
of  an  El  Dorado,  which  they  always  hoped  to 
find. 

"The  chiefs  of  the  Pecos  have  taken  a  gold 


THE    KINGDOM    OF    QUIVERA  243 

arm  band  of  mine, "  said  the  Turk,  wishing  to  make 
trouble  between  them  and  the  Spaniards.  "No 
matter  what  I  say  to  them,  they  will  not  give  it 
back  to  me.7' 

He  described  the  band  as  being  so  wide  and 
heavy  that  Coronado  was  induced  to  seize  the 
chiefs  and  carry  them  off  to  another  pueblo  in  the 
hope  of  compelling  the  Pecos  Indians  to  pay  a 
big  ransom  for  them.  Ln  addition  the  Spaniards 
demanded  cotton  clothes  and  provisions  for  their 
journey.  The  Indians  refused,  and  fought  two 
weeks  before  Coronado  became  satisfied  that  the 
Turk  never  had  such  a  thing  as  an  arm  band,  and 
that  there  was  no  gold  in  the  village. 

"It  is  no  use  to  waste  time  looking  for 
treasures  in  this  part  of  the  world,"  he  finally  told 
his  men,  and  they  immediately  began  to  question 
the  Turk. 

"I  know  a  country,"  he  declared,  "where 
there  is  a  very  wide  river  that  has  fish  in  it  as  big 
as  a  horse.  The  people  tip  their  canoes  with  gold, 
and  sometimes  there  are  forty  rowers  in  a  boat. 
Every  vessel  they  use  is  made  of  gold  and  silver." 

All  the  time  he  was  talking  he  watched  the 
faces  of  the  soldiers  with  keen  craftiness,  and  when 
he  saw  how  delighted  they  were,  he  made  the  story 
just  as  big  as  he  could. 

"There  are  plenty  of  such  places,"  he  said, 
with  a  toss  of  his  head,  ' '  but  my  country  of  Quivera 
is  the  most  important  of  them  all,  and  I  will  take 
you  there  first." 


2-14  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

When  any  one  gets  lost  on  the  plains  where 
there  are  no  hills  or  trees  to  mark  the  way,  they 
wander  around  in  a  circle,  and  finally  get  into  a 
perfect  frenzy  by  coming  back  to  the  same  place 
over  and  over  again. 

This  was  what  happened  to  the  Spaniards 
under  Coronado.  They  returned  in  a  wide  bend 
to  Pecos,  after  marching  for  months  on  the  desolate 
plains. 

"Led  around  in  a  circle/'  he  said,  "as  if  by 
some  evil  spirit.  Everywhere  we  went  we  found 
ourselves  surrounded  by  herds  of  misshapen, 
crinkly-wooled  cows.  Some  of  them  had  calves, 
and  the  bulls  had  beards  of  sunburnt  hair.  Our 
horses  took  fright  and  ran  away,  while  some  of 
them  plunged  and  threw  their  riders  over  their 
heads." 

"Were  these  woolly  cows  ferocious?"  asked 
the  good  padre,  who  had  remained  at  Pecos  to 
teach  the  Indians,  and  had  never  seen  a  buffalo. 

"They  are  very  terrible  when  they  stampede. 
If  they  catch  sight  of  a  white  man,  they  lower  their 
heads  and  with  a  quick,  short  bellow  set  off  at  full 
tilt  in  a  heavy,  rolling  gallop.  On  they  come,  like 
a  mad  rush  of  waters,  tails  high  in  the  air  and 
their  big  eyes  gleaming  with  fright.  We  had  much 
ado  to  keep  out  of  their  way,  for  they  would  run 
over  and  trample  all  to  death. ' ' 

"No  wonder  your  horses  ran  away,"  said 
the  padre.  "It  was  quite  enough  to  frighten 
anything. ' ' 


THE    KINGDOM    OF    QUIVERA  245 

"Finally  we  met  some  of  the  people  who  go 
around  the  country  with  the  cows.  They  make 
tents  of  the  hides  and  wear  them  for  blankets,  and 
keep  huge  dogs  to  carry  their  food  and  baggage. 
They  were  friendly  to  us,  but  knew  nothing  of 
Quivera  and  its  treasures." 

But  the  feeling  of  helplessness  and  desolation 
of  the  plains  gradually  left  the  Spaniards,  and  then 
they  were  ready  to  follow  the  Turk's  lead  again. 
This  time  they  got  lost  in  the  desert,  and  many  of 
them  wandered  off  and  died  from  thirst,  and  their 
bodies  were  eaten  by  wolves  and  coyotes.  They 
kept  going  round  and  round  in  a  circle  until  their 
tongues  hung  out  of  their  mouths  and  they  were 
delirious.  In  the  hot,  quivering  air  they  imagined 
they  saw  cities,  and  lakes  and  springs  of  water, 
and  they  laughed  and  cried,  and  sung  and  danced 
in  a  raging  fever.  At  last  they  began  to  suspect 
the  Turk. 

"He  is  purposely  leading  us  astray,"  they 
said.  "He  is  trying  to  lose  us  on  these  desolate 
plains  where  we  will  starve  to  death.  He  intends 
to  desert  and  leave  us  here. ' ' 

They  put  the  Turk  in  chains,  and  then  he  con- 
fessed that  he  had  never  seen  the  big  stone  houses 
he  said  were  in  Quivera,  but  stoutly  insisted  that 
the  country  was  rich  in  gold  and  silver. 

The  Prairie  Indians  begged  Coronado  to  turn 
back. 

"The  land  of  Quivera  is  forty  days'  journey 
toward  the  north  they  said,  "and  you  will 


24(J          THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DOKADO 

suffer  from  hunger  long  before  you  reach  other- 
tribes." 

But  Coronado  had  spent  all  his  money  and  was 
in  debt  deeply,  so  he  determined  to  take  twenty-nine 
picked  horsemen  and  go  forward.  Leaving  the 
rest  of  the  company  to  find  their  way  back  to  Pecos, 
he  engaged  some  new  guides  among  the  Prairie 
Indians  and  pushed  on  determined  to  find  Quivera. 
They  rode  directly  north  until  they  came  to  a  place 
in  Kansas  near  where  the  city  of  Leavenworth  is 
now  located. 

In  the  meantime  the  Pecos  Indians  went  on 
the  warpath  and  refused  to  receive  or  aid  the 
Spaniards  who  left  Coronado  arid  went  back  to 
them.  He  found  them  encamped  before  the  pueblo 
when  he  returned  months  after,  weary,  empty- 
handed,  and  disappointed. 

"I  have  found  Quivera  and  explored  it  well," 
he  said,  "but  it  has  no  permanent  settlement,  and 
no  gold  and  silver.  I  was  expecting  to  see  houses 
several  stories  high,  made  of  stone.  Instead  of  that 
they  are  simple  huts  and  the  inhabitants  are  per- 
fectly savage." 

The  Turk  tried  to  secure  his  freedom  by  saying 
that  the  Pecos  Indians  had  hired  him  to  lose  the 
Spaniards  on  the  plains,  but  no  one  paid  any  atten- 
tion to  him.  In  revenge  he  said  to  the  people  of 
Quivera : 

"Do  not  let  one  of  these  white  men  escape 
alive.  They  will  bring  others  of  their  kind  and 


THE    KINGDOM    OF    QUIVERA  247 

rob  you  of  all  your  possessions  and  ill  treat  your 
women  and  children.  They  have  already  killed 
many  of  the  Pecos. ' ' 

Son  e  one  told  Coronado  what  was  being  said, 
and  he  ordered  his  soldiers  to  take  the  Turk  out 
and  hang  him  to  the  first  tree  they  found,  which 
they  did. 

Coronado  spoke  the  truth  about  Quivera,  but 
even  the  men  who  went  with  him  believed  that 
there  was  a  land  near  by  where  they  would  find 
great  riches,  and  they  kept  repeating  all  the  stories 
about  El  Dorado  until  Coronado  was  obliged  to 
promise  them  that  he  would  make  another  effort 
to  find  it. 

"If  we  go  north  again  we  can  be  certain  of 
good  food  for  the  soil  is  the  best  that  can  be  found 
for  all  kinds  of  crops.  In  Quivera  we  were  given 
plums,  nuts,  very  fine  grapes,  mulberries  and  flax. 
I  really  believe  we  shall  make  some  important  dis- 
coveries very  soon." 

One  day  at  Pecos  after  he  had  made  friends 
with  the  Indians,  he  was  tilting  with  an  officer  in 
his  command  when  his  saddle  girth  broke  while 
his  horse  was  running  at  full  speed.  He  fell  on  his 
head  and  was  run  over  and  so  badly  hurt  that  for 
days  it  wTas  thought  he  would  die.  Before  he  got 
well  news  came  from  Mexico  that  the  Indians 
behind  him  were  on  the  warpath,  and  then  he  knew 
he  must  retreat  as  quickly  as  possible.  So  instead 
of  going  in  quest  of  the  roving  band  of  Quivera 
Indians,  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  the  city  of 


248  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

Mexico.    Here  the  Viceroy  received  him  coldly  and 
upbraided  him,  saying: 

"It  is  a  source  of  keen  disappointment  and 
regret  to  me,  that  you,  my  trusted  friend  and 
favorite  officer,  should  abandon  the  rich  treasures 
of  the  north.  I  wish  you  to  go  to  your  estate  and 
live  in  retirement  for  the  remaining  years  of  your 
life.  I  will  try  to  find  some  one  more  worthy  of 
my  confidence  for  future  work. " 

Reduced  to  poverty,  with  many  debts  unpaid, 
and  disgraced  by  the  Viceroy,  the  poor  unfortunate 
nobleman  lived  only  a  few  years  on  his  estate  in 
Mexico  and  died  heartbroken  over  his  failures. 

Everybody  in  Mexico  believed  that  he  was  mis- 
taken, and  several  other  expeditions  set  out  to  find 
the  Kingdom  of  Quivera.  More  than  a  century 
afterward  the  legend  settled  around  one  of  the 
missions  founded  by  the  padres,  and  for  years 
people  thought  this  was  the  Grand  Quivera.  Great 
treasures  were  supposed  to  be  buried  there  by  the 
missionaries  when  the  insurrection  of  1680  came. 
That  year  all  the  Indians  in  the  region  of  Arizona 
and  New  Mexico  organized  a  general  uprising  and 
they  not  only  killed  all  the  whites  they  could  find 
but  sacked  and  burned  the  missions.  And  that 
is  the  last  ever  heard  of  the  one  known  as  the 
Grand  Quivera.  No  treasures  were  ever  found  in 
or  near  its  ruins.  There  are  ten  curious  maps  of 
that  time  and  each  one  locates  the  kingdom  of 
Quivera  in  a  different  place.  One  of  them  brings 


THE    KINGDOM    OF    QUIVERA  249 

it    as    far    north    as    the    Sacramento    Valley    in 
California. 

Really  Quivera  is  a  will-o'-the-wisp,  and  from 
a  roving  band  of  Indians,  has  become  a  wandering 
treasure  city,  and  a  land  of  vague  and  mysterious 
proportions. 


AN     OLD     COMMUNITY     HOUSE 


The  Land  of  Gold 

i  any  of  the  boys  and  girls  born 
in  the  United  States  were  asked 
" Where  is  the  land  of  gold?" 
they  would  answer  "It  is  Cali- 
fornia," and  if  any  of  the  children 
born     in     California     were     asked 
"What  is  El  Dorado?"  they  would 
say  "Why,   that  means  the  land  of 
gold." 

So  it  does  and  for  two  reasons. 
Cortez  named  it  California  after  the  heroine  of 
a  romance  of  chivalry  he  had  read  when  he  was  in 
Spain.  The  book  said  there  was  an  island  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Indies  very  near  the  terrestrial 
Paradise,  peopled  with  black  women,  who  were 
Amazons,  and  wore  gold  ornaments  in  great  pro- 
fusion. Down  in  his  heart  Cortez  cherished  the 
hope  that  he  might  find  the  northwest  passage  to 
India,  not  because  he  cared  very  much  for  science, 
but  because  he  believed  the  most  extravagant  stories 
about  the  silks,  spices,  sweet- smelling  gums  and 
rare  gems  to  be  found  there.  His  ill-gotten  Mexican 


THE    LAND    OF    GOLD  251 

go]d  did  him  very  little  good,  and  was  soon  all 
expended,  and  he  was  anxious  to  find  some  other 
country  to  conquer.  The  very  next  year  after  the 
death  of  Montezuma,  Cortez  heard  of  the  Land  of 
Gold,  and  came  over  to  a  cove  on  the  Pacific  Coast 
of  Mexico  where  he  laid  out  a  town  and  built  some 
ships  for  the  purpose  of  finding  the  new  wonder- 
land. All  he  ever  discovered  was  the  peninsula  of 
Lower  California,  where  the  Indians  already 
knew  about  the  pearl  fisheries.  This  was  what 
he  thought  was  an  island,  and  what  he  named 
California. 

One  of  his  officers  sailed  around  the  island 
of  St.  Thomas,  and  on  a  Sunday  morning  he  said 
he  saw  a  merman  swimming  close  to  his  ship. 

"It  came  alongside  the  vessel/7  he  declared, 
"and  raised  its  head  and  looked  at  us  two  or 
three  times.  It  was  as  full  of  antics  as  a  monkey. 
Sometimes  it  would  dive,  and  then  raise  up  out  of 
the  water  and  wash  its  face  with  its  hands.  Finally 
a  sea  bird  drove  it  away.7' 

Of  course  he  was  mistaken,  for  what  he  really 
did  see  was  either  a  walrus  or  a  big  seal  as  both 
animals  abound  in  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

It  was  more  than  three  hundred  years  after 
Cabrillo  sailed  into  the  Gate  of  Palms  at  the 
entrance  to  the  bay  of  San  Diego,  before  gold  was 
discovered  in  California.  The  country  had  been 
settled  by  Spanish  Cavaliers  and  padres  and  there 
were  missions  for  the  teaching  of  the  Indians. 
Mexico  had  rebelled  against  the  King  of  Spain  and 


252  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

the  United  States  had  made  war  on  Mexico  and 
won.  Then  a  man  by  the  name  of  Marshall  found 
some  free  gold.  It  was  in  the  sand  at  the  bottom 
of  a  ditch  he  was  digging  to  get  water  to  run  a 
sawmill  he  was  building.  He  knew  at  once  that 
the  bright  yellow  pebbles  he  held  in  his  hands  were 
gold,  so  he  hurried  to  the  men  at  work  on  the 
watershed  and  said : 

1 '  I  have  found  it ! "  and  that  is  what  the  motto, 
Eureka!  on  the  state  shield  of  California  really 
means. 

"What  is  it  you  have  found,  Mr.  Marshall? " 
asked  the  men. 

"Gold!"  he  exclaimed,  excitedly.  The  men 
threw  down  their  tools  and  gathered  about  him  to 
examine  the  new  find. 

"No,  no;  you  are  mistaken,"  they  said,  when 
they  had  turned  the  pebbles  over,  and  held  them 
to  the  light,  and  hammered  them  with  a  stone. 

"I  am  certain  that  it  is,"  he  stoutly  main- 
tained, but  they  only  laughed  at  him.  He  paid  no 
attention  to  them  but  turned  on  the  water  the  next 
night.  Then  he  picked  up  all  the  yellow  lumps 
he  found  in  the  sand,  and  putting  them  into  a  little 
bag  hastened  to  the  man  for  whom  he  was  building 
the  mill,  and  said: 

"I  have  found  gold  at  the  sawmill,  and  want 
you  to  come  and  see  for  yourself. ' ' 

His  employer  tested  and  weighed  the  shining 
mass  carefully,  and  finally  said: 

"You  are  right.    It  is  real  gold.    Go  back  to 


THE     DISCOVERY     OF    SAN     FRANCISCO     BAY 


254  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

the  mill,  but  say  nothing  until  we  get  it  finished. 
If  you  do  the  men  will  quit  work  and  we  shall  have 
no  one  to  take  their  places." 

But  the  secret  was  too  good  to  keep,  and  in 
a  few  days  the  whole  country  raised  the  same 
sordid  cry  of  "gold,  gold,  gold,"  which  had 
brought  the  Spaniards  to  the  coast.  In  less  than  a 
year  eighty  thousand  people  came  to  California 
looking  for  gold.  From  an  independent  republic, 
California  became  a  state  and  with  its  admission 
into  the  Union  the  search  for  El  Dorado  passed 
from  Spanish  into  American  hands.  Both  the 
padres  and  Cavaliers  in  California  as  elsewhere 
in  the  Americas  enslaved  the  Indians  in  a  system 
of  peonage  which  thinned  out  their  ranks,  and 
led  to  many  hostile  outbreaks  before  they  were 
finally  subdued.  The  gold  seekers  had  to  do  some 
of  the  fighting,  but  they  did  not  rob  and  pillage 
the  country,  nor  were  they  allowed  to  be  unnec- 
essarily cruel.  One  of  our  great  writers  has  said 
of  the  Indian : 

"The  red  man  of  America  has  something 
peculiarly  sensitive  in  his  nature.  He  shrinks 
instinctively  from  the  rude  touch  of  a  foreign  hand. 
Like  some  of  the  dumb  creatures  he  pines  and  dies 
in  captivity.  If  today  we  see  them  with  their 
energies  broken  we  simply  learn  from  that  what  a 
terrible  thing  is  slavery.  In  their  faltering  steps 
and  meek  and  melancholy  aspect  we  read  the  sad 
characteristics  of  a  conquered  race." 

His  faith  in  the  traditions  of  his  forefathers, 


THE    LAND    OF    GOLD  255 

the  belief  that  the  Golden  Hearted  would  come 
again  to  bring  him  all  that  his  heart  desired  finally 
enslaved  and  ruined  him. 

If  we  pity  the  Indian  we  must  also  feel  sorry 
for  the  miserable  ending  of  all  the  Spanish  leaders 
who  searched  for  El  Dorado.  Columbus  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  prison ;  Balboa,  who  dis- 
covered the  Pacific  Ocean,  was  treacherously  exe- 
cuted and  lies  in  an  unknown  grave  near  Panama; 
Pizarro  was  assassinated  and  buried  in  Peru ; 
Magellan  was  killed  by  the  natives  in  the  Philip- 
pine Islands;  Cortez  was  accused  of  strangling  his 
wife  to  death,  and  finally  deprived  of  all  honors 
and  wealth ;  Guzman  died  in  poverty  and  distress 
while  Coronado  was  said  to  be  insane  after  his 
return  to  Mexico.  For  the  crime  and  violence  done 
by  Spain  in  these  expeditions  she  has  not  only  lost 
all  the  revenues,  but  no  longer  owns  a  foot  of  land 
in  any  part  of  the  new  world. 

Let  us  be  thankful  that  the  wisdom  and  liberty 
of  our  own  government  has  saved  us  from  making 
such  terrible  mistakes,  and  doing  such  grievous 
wrongs  in  our  attempts  to  find  El  Dorado.  The 
brave  men  and  women  who  crossed  the  plains  long 
before  we  had  a  railroad  were  willing  to  work  for 
the  riches  they  wanted.  They  did  not  come  with 
the  idea  of  robbing  anybody,  and  when  they  found 
the  gold  they  were  generous  and  kind  to  less  for- 
tunate neighbors  and  friends. 

"In  this  land  of  sunshine  and  flowers,"  they 
said,  "we  find  gold  in  the  crops  of  the  chickens  we 


25f>  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

have  for  our  Sunday  dinners,  and  our  children 
buiJd  doll-houses  with  the  odd-shaped  nuggets 
given  to  them  by  the  big-hearted  miners." 

It  is  hard  to  imagine  the  stirring  times  that 
followed.  Everybody  had  the  gold  fever,  and  in 
crossing  the  plains  they  heard  the  name  El  Dorado 
as  soon  as  they  came  near  where  Ooronado  had 
been.  Some  of  them  made  up  a  song  about  it, 
which  was  for  many  years  very  popular  among  the 
men  in  the  mining  camps.  This  is  one  verse  of  it: 

We'll  rock  the  cradle  around  Pike's  Peak 
In  search  of  the  gold  dust  that  we  seek, 
The  Indians  ask  us  why  we're  here 
We  tell  them  we're  born  as  free  as  the  air, 

And  oh! 

Boys  ho ! 

To  the  mountains  we  will  go 
For  there  is  plenty  of  gold 
Out  West  we  are  told 
In  the  new  El  Dorado. 

Many  of  the  emigrants  sickened  and  died  on 
the  way;  others  were  killed  by  the  hostile  Indians, 
and  all  were  subjected  to  a  life  of  hardship  and 
toil,  because  they  were  the  builders  of  a  new  com- 
monwealth. Once  in  California  they  found  many 
trying  situations,  not  the  least  of  which  was  an 
occasional  fight  with  the  huge  grizzly  bears  that 
roamed  through  the  forests.  Many  times  the  men 
were  obliged  to  organize  a  hunt  for  the  purpose 


THE    LAXD    OF    GOLD  257 

of  ridding  a  district  of  a  nest  of  grizzlies.  Not 
only  would  the  bears  fight  ferociously,  but  they  did 
not  hesitate  to  go  into  a  corral  and  carry  off  calves, 
hogs  and  sheep  under  the  very  eyes  of  the 
owner. 

"Never  for  a  moment  imagine  that  a  grizzly 
bear  will  run  from  you,"  said  the  leader  of  a 
hunting  party  filling  his  powder  horn  and  putting 
a  box  of  caps  into  his  pocket.  "Take  good  aim 
at  the  center  of  his  forehead.  Otherwise  one  shot 
will  not  kill  him,  and  remember  that  he  cannot 
climb.  If  you  get  into  close  quarters,  try  to  get 
up  a  tree  as  fast  as  you  can." 

"We  know  his  trail  and  we  are  going  to  send 
our  dogs  in  to  start  him  out  of  his  den. ' ' 

"Unless  your  dogs  know  how  to  attack  him  it 
is  very  unsafe  to  let  them  go  near.  One  blow  from 
a  grizzly's  paw  will  kill  any  dog,  and  we  cannot 
afford  to  lose  any  of  yours,"  said  the  leader, 
doubtfully. 

"My  dogs  know  all  about  bear  hunting.  They 
will  keep  well  behind  him,  and  after  we  have 
crippled  him,  they  will  snap  at  his  heels  and  worry 
him  so  he  cannot  chase  the  last  man  who  shoots 
at  him." 

"Will  a  grizzly  do  that?"  asked  a  man  who 
had  never  been  in  a  bear  hunt  before. 

'  *  Indeed  he  will.  If  you  watch  closely  you  can 
tell  how  many  times  he  is  hit  for  he  will  fall  down, 
roll  over  and  slap  himself  wherever  the  bullet 
strikes  him." 


258  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

"I  would  not  advise  you  to  waste  any  time 
trying  to  find  out  who  fired  the  last  shot,  for  the 
bear  will  never  make  a  mistake  about  it.  He 
knows,  and  is  always  after  the  last  one." 

"Separate  into  pairs,"  said  the  leader,  when 
he  had  finished  examining  the  bear  tracks  in  the 
path  they  were  following.  "Take  your  stations 
about  a  hundred  yards  apart,  and  when  you  hear 
the  grizzly  coming,  aim  as  I  have  already  told  you, 
and  then  look  out  for  trouble." 

' t  Do  you  think  we  are  likely  to  find  him  soon  ? ' ' 
asked  the  newcomer,  nervously. 

"He  is  in  that  thicket  where  the  dogs  are 
keeping  up  such  a  loud  barking.  You  will  hear 
him  snapping  and  growling  in  a  few  minutes." 

"The  grass  and  underbrush  are  so  high  I  am 
afraid  I  will  not  be  able  to  see  him, "  said  the  timid, 
inexperienced  hunter. 

* '  You  can  tell  by  the  way.  the  dogs  bark  when 
he  is  coming,  and  you  can  easily  hear  the  click  of 
his  sharp  claws  before  he  gets  too  near  for  com- 
fort," said  the  leader,  with  a  smile.  "Make  sure 
that  the  trigger  of  your  gun  is  properly  set,  and 
you  will  be  all  right. ' ' 

He  had  stationed  other  men  farther  up  the 
ravine,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  dogs  yelped 
warningly,  and  the  man  at  the  upper  station 
shouted : 

' '  Look  out !   here  he  comes ! ' ' 

"Bang!"  w^ent  the  gun,  and  then  the  dogs 
rushed  by  in  a  solid  pack  with  a  huge  she  bear 
at  their  heels. 


THE    LAND    OF    GOLD  259 

1 1  There  are  two  of  them, ' '  somebody  said,  and 
in  a  moment  everything  was  in  the  wildest 
confusion. 

"Man  alive!  don't  you  see  that  wounded 
grizzly  rolling  in  the  grass.  He  is  not  badly  hurt, 
but  he  will  be  after  you  in  a  second.  Give  him 
another  dose,  and  run,"  said  the  leader  excitedly, 
to  the  new  hunter  who  was  standing  stock  still 
and  gazing  around  him  helplessly.  He  did  not 
seem  to  hear  what  was  said,  and  before  he  recovered 
from  his  paralyzing  fright,  the  bear  grabbed 
him. 

"Help!  help!  help!  For  God's  sake  come 
here !  I  am  being  killed ! "  he  screamed. 

"Lie  perfectly  still  and  pretend  you  are 
dead,"  said  the  leader.  "Make  no  sound  when  I 
shoot,  and  crawl  behind  that  big  rock  as  soon  as 
you  get  up." 

The  knowing  dogs  barked  and  raged  around 
the  bear  until  he  could  not  tear  the  prostrate  man. 
They  kept  him  turning  round  and  round,  and  the 
daring  hunter  coolly  waited  until  his  head  was 
away  from  the  wounded  man's,  and  then  he  shot 
him  through  the  fore  leg.  Down  he  fell  and  kicked 
and  scratched  the  fallen  hunter,  but  true  to  his 
instinct  got  up  and  gave  chase  to  the  leader,  with 
the  dogs  in  full  cry  behind  him.  The  wounded 
man  managed  to  reach  the  rock,  and  by  scrambling 
up  on  its  jagged  sides  was  comparatively  safe. 
From  his  height  he  could  see  what  the  other  men 
were  doing. 


260  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

"I  am  all  right,"  called  the  leader  from  a 
neighboring  tree,  "but  how  is  it  with  you?" 

"My  powrder-horn  is  crushed  and  broken  and 
my  arm  is  bitten  through.  There  is  blood  running 
down  my  face  too,  but  I  think  that  is  only 
scratches. ' ' 

"Bang!"  went  a  gun  near  by,  and  turning 
to  look  both  men  saw  one  of  the  party  standing 
up  in  the  saddle,  on  the  horse  brought  along  to 
carry  the  game. 

"Get  out  of  that  thicket!  You  will  be  killed 
if  you  try  to  stay  there,"  shouted  the  leader. 

"My  only  chance  is  to  shoot  as  I  stand," 
answered  the  man,  busy  loading  his  gun.  "I  can 
not  make  this  horse  move.  But  for  the  Mexican 
stiff-bit  in  his  mouth  and  a  vigorous  use  of  my 
big  spurs  he  would  lie  down  with  me." 

"I  am  coming  to  help  you,"  said  the  leader, 
sliding  down  the  limb  of  the  tree  to  the  ground. 
"I  will  ham-string  the  grizzly  and  then  you  can 
finish  him." 

He  was  an  excellent  shot,  and  soon  the  bear 
was  dragging  his  hind  quarters  and  showing  signs 
of  weakness  from  loss  of  blood.  The  man  in  the 
saddle  deliberately  aimed  at  his  heart,  and  after 
a  few  convulsive  struggles  the  grizzly  lay  dead. 

The  barking  of  the  dogs  and  the  reports  of 
the  guns  brought  the  whole  party  together,  and 
after  bandaging  the  wounds  of  their  companion, 
and  sending  him  home  on  the  horse  the  remaining 
men  went  in  search  of  the  she  bear.  They  had 


THE    LAND    OF    GOLD 


561 


wounded  her  and  it  was  not  hard  to  track  her  to  a 
small  stream,  where  they  found  her  sitting  on  her 
haunches  and  groaning  like  a  human  being. 

"That  sounds  too  much  like  a  woman's 
moans,"  said  the  men,  "and  we  will  slip  away 
without  being  seen  and  let  her  alone." 

As  they  walked  home  they  took  turns  in  carry- 
ing the  skin  of  the  grizzly  they  had  killed. 

"He  would  weigh  two  thousand  pounds  and 
could  jump  fully  twenty  feet,"  they  said. 


A     PRAIRIE-SCHOONER 


The  New  El  Dorado 

NE  day  long  after  the  gold 
excitement  in  California  had 
subsided,  a  strange  craft  sailed 
into  San  Francisco  bay  flying  a 
flag  different  from  any  other 
ship  in  the  harbor.  It  was  a 
yellow  satin  banner  showing 
the  imperial  double  eagles  of 
the  Russian  Czar,  and  the 
guns  at  the  forts  fired  a  royal  salute  as  the  vessel 
passed  by  on  its  way  to  the  wharf.  On  board 
was  a  man  empowered  by  the  Czar  to  sell  Alaska 
to  the  United  States,  and  waiting  on  shore  to  greet 
him  was  a  Senator  who  was  appointed  to  make 
an  offer  for  the  territory. 

1 1  You  are  very  welcome,  my  friend, ' '  said  the 
Senator,  grasping  the  hand  of  the  Diplomat,  as  he 
came  ashore.  "Your  arrival  gives  my  countrymen 
much  pleasure,  and  I  earnestly  hope  that  we  may 
be  able  to  make  the  ties  of  friendship  between  your 
people  and  mine  very  much  stronger. ' ' 

"His  Majesty,  the  Czar,  charged  me  to  make 
plain  to  you  his  sentiments  of  good  will  and  his 
desire  to  render  your  government  a  service.'' 

The  two  men  pushed  their  way  through  the 
crowd  and  were  soon  being  driven  rapidly  toward 
the  Senator 's  residence.  After  dinner  that  evening, 
while  sitting  by  the  fire  the  Diplomat  said: 


THE    XEW    EL    DORADO  263 

"Do  you  know  the  Russian  story  of  the  dis- 
covery of  Alaska,  the  Great  Land,  as  we  called  it?" 

' '  No, ' '  replied  the  Senator,  "  I  do  not.  I  only 
know  that  it  was  a  curious  freak  of  fortune  that 
your  people  should  be  the  ones  to  discover  the 
fabled  'Straits  of  Anian'  so  long  sought  by  the 
Spaniards,  Portuguese  and  English  navigators. 
Bering's  Sea  is  very  far  from  India,  but  it  is  the 
famous  northwest  passage,  that  separates  Asia 
from  America."  The  Diplomat  said: 

"While  Europe  was  exploring  and  settling  the 
Americas  my  countrymen  were  throwing  off  the 
yoke  that  made  them  subjects  of  the  Khans  of 
Tartary.  Even  at  that  time  we  had  a  great  caravan 
trade  with  China  and  Persia,  but  our  merchants 
suffered  severely  from  the  depredations  of  the  Cos- 
sack freebooters  roaming  over  the  steppes  of 
Siberia.  These  reckless  horsemen  would  charge 
down  on  a  caravan  and  rob  it  of  all  its  silks,  spices, 
teas  and  perfumes." 

' '  Then  you  can  sympathize  with  the  galleons  of 
Spain  that  were  harassed  by  the  buccaneers  and 
pirates  infesting  the  high  seas  ready  to  scuttle  and 
sink  any  ship  that  fell  into  their  hands,"  said  the 
Senator,  greatly  interested.  Bancroft  Library 

*  *  Our  merchants  had  no  redress  and  they  com- 
plained bitterly  to  Peter  the  Great,  who  immedi- 
ately undertook  to  chastise  the  unruly  Cossacks. 
They  fled  into  Siberia,  and  it  was  not  long  before 
they  found  rich  silver  mines  on  the  Amoor  river, 
and  began  to  traffic  in  the  ivory  and  sable  skins 
which  make  that  vicinity  notable.  As  they 


2(U  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

advanced  toward  the  Pacific  Ocean  they  were  able 
to  slaughter  herds  of  musk  oxen,  and  before  many 
years  the  fame  of  the  ivory  deposits  brought  hun- 
dreds of  adventurers  into  that  barren  region.  Dili- 
gent inquiry  among  the  natives  disclosed  the  fact 
that  there  was  a  Great  Land  toward  the  North  Pole 
where  remains  of  the  hairy  elephant  were  plentiful, 
and  its  beautiful  tusks  were  heaped  up  in  huge 
mounds. ' ' 

"It  was  a  desire  for  gold  that  brought  the 
first  white  men  to  California,"  said  the  Senator, 
"and  the  building  of  the  railroad  across  the  con- 
tinent is  the  result  of  having  found  it." 

"Ivory  and  furs  were  the  lure  that  nerved  the 
Russian  freebooter  to  brave  the  frozen  sea  and  six 
months  of  night,"  said  the  Diplomat.  "They  went 
to  sea  in  open  boats  made  of  planks  tied  together 
with  rawhide  straps  and  thongs.  Their  sails  were 
of  soft  dressed  reindeer  skins,  and  in  place  of  rope 
they  used  elk  skin  strips.  The  anchors  were  pieces 
of  wood  weighted  with  stones.  They  had  no  beds, 
and  carried  a  wooden  plate  and  spoon  tied  to  the 
sash  around  their  waists." 

"They  must  have  suffered  very  much  from 
cold  and  hunger, ' '  said  the  Senator. 

"They  did;  and  many  of  them  died  with 
scurvy.  They  were  greatly  hindered  by  glaciers 
and  icebergs,  and  would  never  have  been  able  to 
make  the  journey  at  all  except  for  the  sleds  and 
dogs  furnished  by  the  natives." 

"Were     the     Eskimos     and     Aleuts     always 


THE    NEW    EL    DORADO  265 

friendly?"  asked  the  Senator.  The  Diplomat 
hesitated  for  a  moment,  then  said  with  a  smile : 

"The  freebooters  found  it  necessary  to  fight 
after  they  had  once  ill-treated  the  natives.  At  first 
the  white  men  were  supposed  to  be  superior  beings, 
but  they  proved  themselves  unworthy  of  confidence 
and  then  there  was  serious  trouble." 

"We  have  had  a  somewhat  similar  experience 
in  dealing  with  the  Indians  in  this  country, ' '  replied 
the  Senator. 

"In  one  of  the  numerous  attempts  made  by 
the  freebooters  to  reach  the  Great  Land,  they  fell 
in  with  some  Japanese  castaways  who  claimed  to 
have  found  gold  and  silver  there  in  abundance. 
When  this  was  reported  to  Peter  the  Great  he 
organized  a  scientific  and  military  expedition  under 
Bering  to  find  Alaska,  with  the  hope  that  it  would 
lead  to  commercial  relations  with  America  and 
Japan. ' ' 

"It  seems  a  hard  fate  that  Bering  should  die 
of  scurvy  in  the  winter  when  all  was  dark  as  night 
and  exceedingly  cold, ' '  said  the  Senator. 

"Yes,"  answered  the  Diplomat,  "especially 
after  he  had  survived  the  six  weary  years  of  hard- 
ship and  toil  necessary  to  march  across  Siberia. 
It  is  possible  that  he  would  have  failed  at  last  had 
he  not  noted  the  flight  of  the  land  birds  and  known 
that  there  must  be  a  shore-line  not  far  away." 

"Did  he  or  his  family  profit  by  the  discoveries 
he  made?" 

"Very  little.  It  has  been  the  fate  of  all  the 
Russian  explorers  in  America  to  die  poor," 


36(5  THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

responded  the  Diplomat.  "It  has  cost  my  govern- 
ment vast  sums  of  money  and  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years  have  elapsed  since  the  first  efforts  were 
made.  We  have  profited  greatly  by  the  seal  fish- 
eries and  so  will  your  people  when  once  Alaska 
becomes  a  territory  of  the  United  States. ' ' 

"It  has  always  been  a  puzzle  to  me  why  the 
Czar  recalled  the  Russian  colonists  living  in  peace 
and  prosperity  in  California  under  Spanish  rule, ' ' 
said  the  Senator,  after  a  pause. 

' 'It  was  because  he  wished  to  maintain  friendly 
relations  with  the  United  States  and  he  was  far- 
sighted  enough  to  see  that  California  would  some 
day  come  under  the  American  flag.  It  is  to  increase 
that  feeling  that  he  now  offers  to  sell  Alaska  to  you. 
He  does  not  wish  to  have  any  possessions  on  this 
continent.  The  destiny  of  Russia  lies  in  another 
direction. ' ' 

Both  the  Senator  and  Diplomat  went  to  see  the 
President  and  it  was  not  very  long  until  the  pur- 
chase was  made.  When  the  Senator  came  back 
from  Washington  he  said : 

"We  have  paid  exactly  two  cents  an  acre  for 
Alaska,  and  its  seal  fisheries  are  well  worth  that 
amount.  We  will  not  have  to  fight  for  its  posses- 
sion, and  I  am  certain  that  we  have  made  a  good 
bargain. ' ' 

Since  then  many  men  have  sailed  into  the 
northern  waters  and  come  back  with  cargoes  of 
whale  oil,  or  seal  skins  or  canned  salmon,  but  no 
one  paid  any  particular  attention  to  them.  A  party 
of  scientific  men  explored  the  Yukon  river  which 


THE    NEW    EL    DORADO  267 

is  as  long  and  as  wide  as  the  Mississippi  and  made 
the  ascent  of  Mount  St.  Elias,  one  of  the  loftiest 
peaks  in  North  America,  but  nobody  was  interested 
in  Alaska  except  as  a  place  where  the  sun  shines 
for  six  months  and  then  leaves  the  whole  country 
in  partial  darkness  for  another  six  months. 

Imagine  the  sun  apparently  traveling  around 
in  a  little  circle  all  the  time.  There  are  no  sunrises 
and  no  sunsets,  and  no  need  of  lights  at  night.  Then 
when  it  goes  down,  lamps  or  candles  must  be  burned 
all  the  time.  When  the  extreme  cold  comes  the 
aurora  boreal  is  sends  out  splendid  rays  of  many 
colored  lights  to  burnish  up  the  vault  of  heaven 
and  make  a  grand  electrical  display. 

The  Eskimos  are  a  dwarfed  race  of  men  and 
women  with  flat  noses,  and  eyes  wide  apart,  and 
they  dress  themselves  in  heavy  furs  with  the  hair 
turned  next  to  the  body.  They  live  on  fish  and 
whale  blubber,  and  are  experts  in  throwing  a  spear 
or  managing  a  skin  canoe.  In  front  of  their  homes 
they  have  curious  totem  poles  to  show  what  tribes 
they  belong  to,  and  they  are  quite  ingenious  in 
weaving  fish-nets,  baskets,  and  in  the  carving  of 
silver  and  ivory. 

For  many  years  no  news  came  from  Alaska, 
except  by  ship,  and  on  a  warm,  sunny  day  in 
autumn  not  long  ago,  some  sailors  set  up  the  cry: 

"Gold  has  been  found  in  Alaska!  It  is  the 
new  El  Dorado !  It  is  richer  than  California!" 

At  first  people  did  not  believe  them,  but  when 
the  experts  passed  upon  the  findings  everybody 
said: 


THE    STORIES    OF    EL    DORADO 

' '  Let  us  go  to  the  Klondike !  We  can  get  rich 
in  a  few  months. ' ' 

The  excitement  was  so  great  that  it  did  no  good 
to  point  out  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  such 
an  undertaking. 

"We  will  take  the  chances  of  freezing,"  they 
said,  carelessly.  ' '  We  can  walk  over  the  mountain 
passes  and  we  do  not  care  about  the  discomforts." 

"But  only  a  few  can  find  the  gold.  It  was  the 
same  in  California.  Not  one  in  a  thousand  can 
possibly  bring  away  as  much  gold  as  he  takes  with 
him  to  live  on,  for  food  will  be  very  scarce  and 
high  priced, ' '  urged  the  prudent  ones. 

"You  will  freeze,"  said  others,  "or  will  die 
with  scurvy,  or  be  eaten  by  those  terrible  white 
polar  bears  and  wolves." 

i  i  No  matter  what  you  say  to  us  we  are  going, ' ' 
was  the  reply,  and  every  ship  that  could  be  found 
was  loaded  with  eager  men,  and  some  venturesome 
women  bent  upon  wresting  the  gold  from  the 
frozen  north.  Many  of  them  had  never  seen  an 
iceberg  or  a  glacier,  and  had  no  idea  what  misery 
awaited  them. 

' '  Write  us  as  soon  as  you  can, ' '  said  the  wives 
and  mothers  tearfully,  as  they  stood  on  the  wharf 
in  some  seaport  of  the  Pacific  saying  good  by  to 
some  loved  one,  going  to  seek  a  fortune. 

"It  will  be  six  months  before  this  ship  can 
return,"  said  the  captain  of  one  of  the  first  ships 
that  carried  gold  seekers  to  Alaska  in  answer  to 
an  anxious  inquiry  as  to  how  long  it  will  be  before 
the  promised  letters  could  arrive. 


THE    XEW    EL    DORADO  269 

"Why  will  you  be  so  long!"  asks  some  little 
boy  or  girl  whose  heart  is  sad  at  parting  with 
their  beloved  father. 

"Because  the  great  ice-floes  will  close  in  on 
our  vessel  and  we  will  not  be  able  to  move  until 
the  weather  moderates." 

"Then  will  you  bring  my  father  back  to  me?1' 
asks  the  simple  child. 

1 '  I  hope  so,  my  dear, ' '  and  then  the  kindly  face 
of  the  captain  looks  serious  and  he  mutters  to 
himself,  "God  forbid  that  it  should  be  a  grave 
instead  of  a  fortune  that  awaits  this  child's  father. ' ' 

The  first  season  many  a  brave  man  sailed  away, 
full  of  hope  and  expectancy,  but  the  next  year 
returned  haggard,  worn  and  in  some  instances  a 
hopeless  invalid. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the  gold  fields  of 
Alaska!"  asks  his  old  friends  as  they  shake  his 
hand. 

"It  is  a  place  to  suffer  and  grow  old  in;  a 
place  to  lose  the  earnings  of  a  lifetime,  and  your 
health  with  them.  In  the  long,  dreary,  dark  nights 
the  stoutest  heart  loses  courage,  and  next  to  longing 
for  home  is  the  longing  for  death. ' ' 

If  he  were  one  of  the  fortunate  few  who  found 
the  grains  of  free  gold  deposited  in  the  frozen 
sands,  he  had  a  sobered,  prematurely  old  look  and 
said: 

"Yes,  I  have  made  money  in  the  gold  fields 
of  Alaska,  but  I  hope  I  may  never  be  obliged  to 
go  back  and  live  in  the  mines. ' ' 


270  THE    STOEIES    OF    EL    DOEADO 

Strewn  along  the  trail  and  over  the  Chilkoot 
Pass  are  the  bleaching  bones  of  those  who 
sacrificed  their  lives  in  the  effort  to  reach  the  new 
El  Dorado.  The  simple  Eskimos  looked  on  in 
wonder  at  the  frantic  energy  of  their  white 
brothers,  and  were  content  in  their  own  security. 

The  Ice  Queen  is  their  guardian  and  she  pun- 
ishes those  who  venture  into  her  frigid  realm  to 
unearth  and  carry  away  the  hidden  .treasures.  In 
Alaska,  as  everywhere  else,  one  must  work  hard  and 
build  up  the  country  instead  of  robbing  it,  if  money 
is  really  to  be  made.  The  late  comers  have  already 
learned  this  lesson,  by  experience,  and  are  begin- 
ning to  build  railroads,  good  houses,  schools  and 
churches  in  the  warmest  and  most  fertile  part  of 
the  country  surrounding  the  seaports. 

And  we  know  at  last  that  El  Dorado  exists 
solely  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  men,  and  not  in 
the  everlasting  snows  of  Alaska. 


APPENDIX 


The   following   is   a    partial    list   of   the   books   consulted    by 
the  author  in  the  preparation  of  the  "Stories  of  El  Dorado." 


Aubrey,  Frank 
Baldwin,   J.   D. 
Bandelier,    A.    F. 
Bancroft.  H.  H.    - 
Bancroft,  H.  H. 
Bancroft,  H.  H.    - 
Bancroft,  H.  H. 
Brinton,  D.  G. 
Brinton,  D.  G.    - 
Donnelly,  Ignatius 
Harrison.   Elizabeth 
Heuvel,  J.  A.  Von 

Higginson,  T.  W. 

Hittell,  T.  H.  - 
Hood,    Margaret   G. 
Longfellow,  H.  W. 
Markham,    C.    R. 
Payne,  E.  J. 

Prescott,  W.  H. 
Prescott,  W.  H.    - 
Plongeon,  A.  Le 

Plongeon,  A.  Le    - 
Stephens,  J.  L.    - 
Stephens,  J.  L. 
Simon,  Pedro 

Schoolcraft,  H.  R. 
Wallace,  Gen.  Lew  - 


The    Devil    Tree    of   El    Dorado. 

-  Ancient  America. 
The   Gilded   Man. 

-  History  of  the  Central  American  States. 
History    of    California. 

-  History    of    Alaska. 

Native    Races,    Vols.    Ill    and    V. 

-  Myths  of  the  New  World. 
American    Hero-Myths. 

-  Atlantis. 

Story    of    Christopher    Columbus. 

-  El    Dorado,    a   narrative   of   a    rich    and 

splendid   city   in   South   America. 
Tales    of    the    Enchanted    Island    of    the 
Atlantic. 

-  History    of    California. 

Tales  of  Discovery  on  the  Pacific  Slope. 

-  The   Song  of  Hiawatha. 
History  of  Peru. 

-  History      of     the      New      World      called 

America. 

-  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Mexico. 

-  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Peru. 
Sacred     Mysteries     of    the    Mayas    and 

Quiches. 

-  Queen  Moo. 

Incidents  of  Travel  in  Central  America. 

-  Incidents  of  Travel  in  Yucatan,  2  Vols. 
Expeditions  in  search  of  El  Dorado  and 

Omagua. 

-  The  Myth  of  Hiawatha. 

-  The   Fair   God. 


